Author. 



H * 




Title 



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aass..O„J.5j 

Boo).. MAkUd 



Imprint. 



16—47372-1 apo 



AN EXAMINATION 



iNTO TUB 




%U-i6 



JE¥PE»J/aTr O^^ ESl\3iBh1SIILrG 



BOARD OF AGRICULTUllE 



JN THF 



3^iM?l ©IF fHaW^UDBllSo 



PUBLISUKD BY THE 

J^'EJrrOUK CORRESPOjXDWG ASSOCMTIOjV 

II 

FOR THE PROMOTION Ol? 

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. 



JS. WORTmNGTOxV, PRINTER, liROOKLYN. 

4819, 



THE 

iiVEW-YORK CORIIESPONDI^G ASSOCIATION 

FOR THE PROMOTION OF 



muMi^ga 



-««S»W' 



OFFICERS OF THE JSSOCMTIOAZ 

BE WITT CLINTON, Fresident. 

SAMU5^.L L. IMITCIIILL. 1 y. p ,. 

CADWALLADER D. COLDEN,/ ^'<^«-"^*' ' 

COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE AND PCBI.ICATION. 

'J'lIOMAS EDDY, Chaivman. 



William Bayard, 

TuKODOUrs liviLEY, 

Sylvam'i jMillek, 
James Tallmadge, Jiin. 

RoUliRT BotiARBUS, 



Pierre C. Van Wyck. 
John Pintard, 
James li. Bell, 
John McKksson, 
R. H. BowNK. 



CHARLES G. HAINES, CornsponiUng SecrcUmj. 
HENRY POSI\ Jtin, Treasurer, 



nu-^fd^ 



A^ 



^ H5" 






i 



AN EXAMliNATlON, ^x-. 

AS <lie establishment of a Board or Agriculture, is re- 
teoiumcndi'd b}' (he Execu<ivc (o r!ie Legishitui'c of the state 
of New- York, it may not be unprofitable to take some view 
of t!te deep interests dependant n{»on its institution) and the 
salutary elfects uhieh it would prodnee. 

Agrieulture, like other leading branches of industry, em- 
braced in the science of political econcjuiy, is dally becoming 
a subject of greater moment in our country. As the great 
fundamental source of human subsistence, as the imperish- 
able basis of the wealth, power and grandeur of nations, as 
the support of commerce, manufactnres, and the arts, it will 
now, we trust, receive the munificent and unwaveiing patron- 
age that comports with the magnitude of its interests. 

By some, it may be deemed ostentatious, at a period like 
tills, and in a community so enlightened as our own, to quote 
the observations and opinions of illustrious writers, to con- 
firm and fortify established truths, or truths that are em- 
br;i"cd and sanctioned by a general belief But axioms in 
political economy, like those in the science of politics, Mhich 
constitute tlse foundation of a people's freedom, may always 
be recalled with a salutary efieet, when treating of subjects 
which are intimately interwoven with their correctness. 

<♦ Land, (says a distinguished writer) is the true source of 
national wealth, because it produces every thing that a man- 



desijvs i'or i!ic sn; [ly of his waiHs, his eiijoyjr.fnfs, his [*!ra*- 
sures, and his fancit s ; uiul hreaufcc ii coiibtanJly reproduces* 
a qiian(i(y ssipcrioi' lo what has heen consumed., lo t'fieet itb 
rt'^n'odiKiliotio I'his exees-j orivpmihiction, tliis j^rafuitous 
j^ilt of Ihe soil, tliis net p.odnce, is the surest TuikI that can 
he employed io eueourage (he [jio^iess of hihor, to jewaril 
its sneee>s, to promote iu'pioveuieriJs, and indeiinitely to 
increase the somec oC publie and privaie wealth,'** 

*• or a)l a!(a (s;t v?5 ^ a((el.) Aj^rieullnie is the most useful 
and necessary. It is tin- nursinj; mother of the state. I'he 
enhiyalion of ihe ea? t!s, ( anses it to produce an infinite in- 
crease. It forms (he surest lesource and llie most solid 
fund of riches and conunerce, for the people who enjoy u 
Jiappy (•!!n'ia<C'"j 

" Aji;iieul(ure claim? a pre-eminence above manufi^etures 
and commerce, from its security and superior usefulness. 
Manuf.:clures and commerce ori^lnany owed (heir existence 
lo ai^riculture, and \\i\' pfo,de employed in carrying thens 
on, mtist eous!anl!y he f < (I hy those who are encjaged iu the 
paicnt art. A,qriL'uhure may (herefore be eonsidereJ as of 
the lirst importance (o mankind j because (licir temporal 
^>eirare arid prosjierity depend upon receiving;; a regular anvl 
suiiuient sii{>ply of (lie various arJieJes cultivated by th*; 
aii,ricula>rist. 'I'he territory possessed hy any people, is(h%5 
ori_y;inal property or esipital stock f'om which they are sup- 
plied, not only with (he necessaries, but aLsy with the com- 
forts of life; and in tllreiit pioportion as their territojy is 
iiiiiiroved, their prosperity v/ill he advancetl."}; 

'• It is not (he number of people, hut (heir wealtli, wliicfj 
constitutes (heii- power; and (hat population ouj^ht to In* 
s!iho!'di!»ate to agrienhure, so that the abundance of produev 
slit!iiid coiibtantly precejie ihe increase of population.'''^ 

* Canitivs Polil. Ecoit. 6:;. 
t Vntters Laws Nat. th. 7, p. 58^ 
I K(!iiihni<{li Lnevrlo. art. Ajzricul. 
'S i?ir Avlliur Yoim<>-f; FoHtieal AsiUi* 



5 

*♦ A,^i iuaUure, (says Mr. Miiltlnis) is not only that specie* 
of industry wJiieh is chieily requisite to the suhsistenee oJt' 
niultituili'9, Imt it is in iUct, the sole species !>y which niwl- 
tiiiuies can exist; and all the numerous arts and nianut'aC' 
tures oF ih^-! modern world, hy which such nuiahers appeal* 
to he supported, have no tendency whatever to increase po- 
puhition. except as far as they tend to increase the (juanlily 
and latilitate the distribution of the products of Agricul- 
ture."* 

'these references to eminent political writers, are suffi- 
tlenf to show in what disling;uishi'd ealimation they viewed 
the intei'csts of aqricultuie. The Duke of Sully, whose hare 
name is (he talisman that calls up evei-y tiling illustrious and 
gi-eat in the government of an empire, called ♦» Aj^ricuhuie 
and Pasture, tlie two great hreasts of nature, from which 
nations I'ceeived their nourishment." The sagacious and 
philosophic Huuic, has paid it a splendid homage, and Yat- 
tel, wliom we have quoted, dwells upon the importance ol' ren- 
dering agricultural pursuits honorable in a state. He alludes 
to China, where once in every year, the Kmperor holds the 
plough with his own hands; and he might have mention- 
ed Persia, wljcre on a festival, which was annually eele- 
hraled in honor of tlie art. the Peitsian king foiuierly ad- 
dressed tlic husbandmen in the following language : •• I am 
one of you. My subsistence and that of my people, rests on 
tiic labor of your hands; the succession of the race of man 
depends on the plough, and without you we cannot exist. 
Our dependance is recipioca! — let us li>e as brothers, in 
perpetual harmony." 

We are not, liowever, here ascribing to agrienlluie, all 
those exclusive attributes wli'.h are rejjresented as his pecu- 
liar projjerty by the agricultural sect of political econon»ists ; 
we are not entering into those conflicts of opinion, which 
have exercised the ingenuity and called forth the eloquent 

* ^Malthus on Populn'-ioii, vol. i, p. ^7.t. 



6 

iTasonJngs of the Firiuh, Idiliau niid Esiglish eeonainisls, 
ill discissjing (lie posiiior), (Inil (he hihar ijisiowrd on (he 
soil is liie only proil.Kfivc jabos'. llni \vc may assert With 
assurance, that agriciiltme sustains (he [)1os{k iisy, power, 
and happiness of natioKs, on a IbniitianDn snore penujuiient, 
more iainioveahle, nioie unfailing, than any oiiu i soiiree of 
industry einhraeed in the eoaipass of human in^^i'niiity or 
human ini[»rovenient. The real indinsie strcngtSu riches, 
and independence of a stale, mast he connected svith, and 
depend upon, the cnllivation of its soil. Here is the iavin- 
eihle hnUvark that bailies tlie restraint!*, the edicts, an<i ti^e 
prosciiptions of a hosiilo world. Here is the frowninf^ ram- 
part, behind Avhieh a people may rest with seensity. and 
iitid internal i)eace and plenty, alihoni;h the iiienacini::: < loud 
of destruelion, i'roni exteiiral h(»s(ili)y. hang u[>on their bor- 
deis. While the history of coniniei<ial states, uhere llsey 
have been strictly of that chararier, has been njarked by 
vicissitude, and a pei-petual exposure to the resirictions. • a- 
price and eniuity of foreign poweis, even dni'ing the nsost 
brilliant eras of their tnaritinie greatness — that of nations 
vesting their dependence on agriculiural resources, has been 
uniform as (he revolutions of (be seasons, and e.xenint iVoui 
(h(^ effects of foreign animosity as the foundaiiun of llieir 
soil itself. 

Neither are we for encouraging agrictjiture at (lie expense 
of con^.nierce and nvanufactJjres. 'J'he <!is(inc(ions diawn 
between tliem by many [Mihlic wiitn-s, can never aj)ply to 
i;. !;! our country, tliese thiee branches ofindusJiy, wealth 
-and ptswer, are allied to, and sustain each other by recip- 
rocal [jatronage. We are a great exporiing ceundy. Our 
fertile and extensive soil gives us a vast suiplus produce ; 
our manufactories, by conver(ing (he abundance of (he raw 
materials which we possess, into articles of jtixury and con- 
venience, will enable us (o wididraw our dejiendance on 
foreign supplies, and have an excess of ir.a^iufacdired pi-o- 
duets, that will give us an aS)ili(y of con)pc(ing with olhtg;' 
manufacturing nations, in foreign markets 5 and commerce 



w'ili convey (he suq^lus fruits of our iiidiisd'y, boUj in agri- 
eultur'c and iniinufactijies, to (he various parts of the com- 
mercial woi'ld. Jii fact, nature has destined, (hat in (he U- 
nited Stales, as^iiculture, commerce and manufac(ures, shouUl 
ilourish in unison, and he bound together by indissohible ties. 
In our country, speaking in a national point of view, we 
have as yet mad;? I)ut feeble and partial efforts in agricultural 
improvements. As a science of an elevated and profound 
nature, it lias not received that <leep thouglit, and persever- 
ing and extensive encouragement, which it richly merits, 
and will, ere long, receive. Many causes explain this defi- 
ciency in the application of our ingenuity and resources. We 
have a country that is fruitful, and extensive ahiiost beyond 
example, possessing a widely diU'iised population, furnishing 
but a few cultivators in proportion to the magnitude of our 
territory. Thus a single cultivator will find his labors more 
abundantly rewarded than one in England, or any other part 
of Europe, because he bestows his industiy on four times the 
extent of ground, and on a soil, in many cases, more rich 
and exuberant. Our exportations too, which have been the 
basis of our direct commerce, have not been of a description 
(o lead our inquiries into the details of agricultural know- 
ledge. Among our stajdc articles of exportation, have been 
cotton, tobacco, rice and indigo, whose cultivation has been 
coniined to the planters of the south, and not a subject of 
general enquiry among (he farming interests of the nation. 
The lumber trade of the eastern states, as well as their 
devotion to the fisheries, has had no connection with the per- 
fection of this art. Our commerce has done little to advance 
a scientific system of experiments and investigation in this 
respect. Our vast exportation of flour, our exportation of 
grain, live stock, beef, pork, butter, cheese, 6cc. has, it is 
true, in some measure advanced our knowledge ; but our 
entire exemption fro:)i want, and the natural fertility of our 
soil, has co-oper.Ated as an indaccmeni to suffer our aa-rlcul- 
tunJ affairs to progress in their own natural course. 



8 

We sliiill sljow in (lie soquci a n;i(ur;il asid nopcssarv ehatige 
■jn (licsc impoi'hint (.'oneerns. ^Ve must, iilso recollect, (liat 
our coEnnierce has been ol" (v,o kinds, and Hial one desciip- 
lion lias not been ininiediatelv connected with tlie ciiliivafiou 
and disposal of our own products — we mean the earryin;.^ 
<rade. Dijrinj^ (he wars on (he con(inen( ofEuiope, it is well 
known, that this branch of eoniiueice became a vast source 
of prolil to the United Stales, and a source (hat had no de- 
pendence on the cultivation of our soil. 'I'his trade fill with 
the bi'lligerent system of the yvarrins; powers. Another 
cause, which operates wi(h no inconsiderable efil-et, is the 
distinction between the agricultural classes in (his country 
and (hose of (he first agricultural nations in I'urope. In Eng- 
land, and in other quarters of the old continent, the soil is in 
the handsof great landholders, the lords of (he domain, pos- 
sessing innnense wealth, and frequendy grea( revenues, inde- 
pendent of the proceeds of (heir real es(a(es, and eveiy yvay 
able to make expensive experinten(s and expend large sums 
of money, and bring their lands (o a high state of agricultural 
improvement. I'his has been (he casein England and Fiance. 
Necessity too, from paucity of territory and density of popu- 
lation, lias also add<'d some stimulus to invention. We yvisU 
not for this condition of things in our own country ; yve only 
say, that it has only tended to elevate agricultural knowledge 
in many parls of Europe (o the Mgliest standard of perlVction 
and to yyhieb we can easily attain, yvithout feeling the pres- 
sui*e of an odious disparity in civil enjoynien(s and ciyil lights. 
In our country, professional devotion, and commercial pur- 
suits, embrace a great proportion of our enterprizing and 
wealthy population. The enltivalion of the soil, especially 
in the northern, middle and yyeslern states, is generally left 
to that intelligent an<l respectable portion of eoininuni(y. 
whose affluence gives (hem independence, but n(»l the means 
and opportunity of devoting time and expense to the acquisi- 
tion of knowledge by research and experiment, in order to 
extend the sphere of juactieal knowledge. Habits and pre- 



9 

.jiulici^s roi'tifn'il hy i'lMd '.md uiiinteri'OjjUd eo np.'(env.'e foo 
Jtrten shut oul liu' ligiil oi' iiurllig-cai-e, wlicn it wears Ih-? as- 
|>i'cl of ii«vc!(y. Aiid in facf, to coniliidt' on this point, oui' 
-'•omitt'y is sfili yomi.^, iu it;Uiu!i,i! e\'!>lc!H*:', aii;l of c«mi'S4\ 
not vet exjKM'icni'ed in (liose gica! walks oi' i:iiprovoni('nl inlo 
wfjjch we arc ijow t'n!c5'ia.2;. !or a Jojig and Iriiiisiphant ooiu's<\ 
It is with livitio (s as \vi{h iiidividuaSs ; tisije is essential to the 
€or5su!iJiiiat!o:i ol" cxtelicncc and i^'rcaf iicss, 

A new era has eoamicjiccd in our agi ieiilfusal histojv. — 
The present jear pres;'n(s us \uih iiupiovfiuents (hat givi' a 
satisiaetofy p!r5!j:'e of the vast at-quisiiioiis ^vhieii await is. 
The first states, as well as t!ie lirst statesmen, in our ualo!!, 
yt-e U8W bondsH;^ their eiloi'fs aad their lali-nis to a soin-i-e ol' 
n.itiuaa! pr»\ver and gvealRi-ss. that \vili ropay thi;ir exeriio:ii< 
v/ith a I'ii'h asid iasliu'^; tribute, The iis^hl of Kurope is ijo 
fore us. I'he sun ofseienee ilitp.niiies (Mir paths. The \von 
<5'.'i*riil advanees h.i ehemi-<try, i!ii:K'ra!a_:^v, gi'olojjjv an<i hohi- 
wy, v/hieh murk t!ie present j?eiiod viih lustre and glory. 
*anno{ f.ij! oi'l(';i^Uii\^ to invesiigaduav: am! experrneuls in tl>e 
jj.rt of a^rieul'.wre, that sliall result in v. rii:!u;nilj«i-nl aequi^i 
iiou t« tSte age in which we live, an;l a ijeueili oT t!ie ds'epest 
fsionient to posteriJy. Sue!) proipeets di-iiKiuu i!ic exultuiion? 
«!Ta greaJ people sensible ofi.heh' adva;jtages, their iak'.rcsts. 
?in(\ their future faare. 

Lf't us n«\v itjijuire iin^G Use natural advantages of our owu 
state for agrieultura! iiuproveui^'nt. 

In e€*n{en?pl;i!iii,ij the pinsiral ausJ mora! advantages oi 
our country for agrieuhura! j^reataess. the first favoru!>Ie 
<"ons!derations which sniiii' our view, are ilie nature of ou!' 
IVee and Ijheral institutions, iite tenor of our landed p'roperfy? 
fhe chrapness an« ahundauee of our l;ind, the exubej-imee of 
«ur soil, th(; g;.^aeral saiuhrlty and healthiness ofour threat aic- 
lieuiiura! seelioas of the country, liuv exrnsption from luxe-.. 
and tiir* freedo u of our eoirunerec. In nuiny resp<'eis, a jlat 
Serins; eonti'asf arises as vte eofnpare oar eountry v. i(h (hit 
^a!-ioiJs sta'rs of H^iuope, is! T'elalion to jlir- gveat *uhJ<'eS of 



10 

Mliifh \\c are h-eudn;;. I'lic icudal svstcivi of the vusiem 
i'untinont lias lei't (lie stern impress of i(s IVahiiPs on (he po- 
lilical itiKiidilions vhicli have followfil h^ (lissoliifiun. It 
s»iil pervades, to a {greater or less ex(eii(, tUv sj^irit of huided 
renures, and bears witli a liepressins^- and di^eoiiraqin};; weight 
on (he cultivators of the soil. The manner of s( ttlsng con 
tra<(s, the dnraiiun of leases, the covenants to he inserted, 
the form, and every Ihinj^ connected vit!) tlsem, is an in^por 
tant part of the tsgrieulttiral code. l"o evei v one, it nsnst 
he apparent, that a sjslcin of landed tenures, thai oppresses 
the farming intei-est, and discourages the enter[!ri:£e aiid 
shackles the energies of (he cultiva(oi-, must he hij^i'lv preju- 
dicial in impeding (he march of improven)ent. 'i'hc taxes, 
too, of Europe, in the shape of tithes exactions, &e. to 
sustain the profligacy of governments j the vast proportion 
of unproductive population \v!)0 live on the lahors of the in- 
ferior classes ; (he immense enclosures, parks, and pleasure 
grounds, devoted to i'nc idle amusements of the nohilily, arc 
bO many drawbacks on the general prospoiity of agriculture 
in the old world. If these burdens, operate in favor of a 
high state of agricultural improvement in producing, by 
tlic coercion of necessity, the most attenfive cultivation of 
the soil ; they constitute a fact tijat only goes to shew, to 
Avhat extent (he same art may be cairied under a govern- 
ment, and under circtunstances, congenial to the happiest in- 
terests of mankind. 

In the United States, we have a government that is mild, 
free and hapj)y, existing independent of direct taxation ; a 
climate that embraces ail tlic physical blessings which dis- 
tinguish the most beneiicent quarters of tJie world ; a terri- 
tory tjjat possesses all the various soils of the globe, pro- 
ducing every material production that can be found in the 
confines of Europe, and many tro[)ical jtlants that Europe 
cannot furnish. We are dally fjccoming more and more the 
granary of the world ,• and whatever superior acquisitions 
of knowledge are possessed in Europe, connected with tlie 



II 

eiillivatioti of the soil, aic coming' aeioss the oocan (o our 
ihcies wUh the emigrants from EngSund, France and Ger- 
njany, ami every other section of fiie totsfinent.* 

Wiih these general remarks, let us turn to ilte state of 
New- York, liut few couiHries of ihe same magnitude, pre- 
sent it i;»eater variety and exteiU of nainral resources. 

New- York naturally divides herself into three sections ; 
?he fjrKl is conipiehended hy the soil on the scahoard, and 
lying ea^t of the mountains, which, wUh hrokeri ridges, ex- 
lemls through our stale ; the second may he called the moun- 
tainous district, comprising that portion of oui* g(ate which 
is oJ the least value, and wliieh divides the seahoai'd and the 
Jands Oil the east of the ridge of mountains, fiom the terri- 
tory of the west ; the tliiid is that vast an<I fertile country 
which rises into an elevated [)iain, emhi'acing in its hounda- 
lies the shores of the St. L-.iv^renee, t!te hoi-dcrs of Lake 
Ontario, and part of I/ake Erie, (he northern limits of 
Pennsylvania, and slie sources of (he Mohawk. The eastei-n 
divisio'i, is in gcneraS a rich and pj-oductive country, pos- 
sessing a soil that is wartn, i\\}, and prolilic. Some of the 
counties in this section, are under a higher state of cultiva- 
tion than any other portion of our sfafe. The alluvial flats 
ai'e ahundandy exnherant, and ijring foiih an increase that 
places their fertility in competiiion with any tracts of eoim- 
iry in Europe. As we progress to the norih, the soil is not 
so favorahle, cxhihiting a difference of climate and produc- 
tions. This part of our state is however capable of a high 
cultivation with a few exceptions, and is daily ijiiproving hy 
the enterpsize and perseverance of a hai-dy and valuable 
population. Tlie middle or mountainous section, is of course 
more di versified and broken than the castcin or western, 
containing tite greatest quantity of unproductive lands. The 
vallies are however rich and valuable, the more elevated parts 

* Vide Speech of Le Ray de Cliauniojit.- and the Lettei's of 
:Vh-. IJiii^Leck. 



12 

peii't; sH'( asuji ol" \vak'r, <L-aji;»I»ic' or!H'ini> iii!j)i<»vc«l lo vu'uKiijK'? 

h't'oi'e us iiuv. yl' tix ffoblcbl c«)US!!!as l'ain:d on ihv iacc »>f 
tiie glolx'j fa^mhle oi' su!?fi«u>M!!j; nsuny jiilliion'j of jn'«?j>!v, 
\\oiM(i^ lo improve am] isniricli hs soil. It open:? souit-ts <>r 
v.c;ill!i -ami j;,i'i;s!n'fss jh;i( -aic i'icrmil us ^hf {'{-'fnuliilMMis <*'' 
mil* c4>n5iiHH5. Vi Uiiihvv \vc t?m^i«U'r ihc hcullhy (tnuprrtv- 
niir of ihe i-iima'.e, ihe j-k-hnt'ss an;! Siixuriiusce of Ukc soJL 
i!io vai'iciy of ni'i-t i^»;lvy (•(M-uustsdiiks asi<l sJsiplc ',uSi<''« - 
uliH-h it '; \ 'iluci?*. or iho rich si;:ufi:tls tnsjSuiiivii lis Jts bi.- 
s.)!U, it is cjduily the. sairtc, a i^vvni arnl wojx'i jful cotHjSi'j 

^^ c .s'.'r not h('i\' a^'^i!Uii!i;:^ )o <Mir^i'h('>- iIr' oHum' or^jvin^si' 
H «lis><cr(a(i<(it (f.u the f h.H-Httin' oi" liie iliilrri'isJ sjMh of «ui 
stale, add tiie vaiietivs of ?hh' ernsKU<'; v\« on^v s^jjeak 'v.i 
gtMi'cal tei'Uis of 'iniv u.U !!'»•»! resowrtrs. \Vi; .sav, Jhat ^Vvv 
t "rriiorieb ol'llic saufe extent j»r«.'seii( so little waste land, aijif 
l!» »t nont? ever jtoswHsed all the attrihules in IseiseU". of s^, 
g eat agi'ieultural eotmlty, to a ("ylSir txUiil ^iiu« our osvsi 
threat nieiMlKT «>i" the eoJ?lV<Uri!ey. 

AdiiptiiJ!^ tlie fill «M\y as eoneet, that (lie j-ielmrss ofiJlie soil 
hears a pidpoi li(»n !o iIk'; tieeaj oi' hisuii/ijit vegylatiun on 
its suilaee, uiul the abuiidaiJ! ferniiiy o!"oiU' sivUe is iia!|>al)!;' 
eviileat. Jt Ir.is beesM-niit he<l !>y iiie gs'owth aiul deeuy islT 
•^4gelaif!e siiltslanees ihv eesitwises, aiul nneNliausied hy the 
haiu! hI' i»(ijno\<MiuMit, Our s^taie also aUonnds in tli«>se mi- 
nei-a! (leasiires vhieli are eal«iiJ;'.iv<,l lo inerease the i'ltiiirul 
3»',-.ss an»! ruhanee the value ftrtlte soil. Hie iiupoitant aiti 
lie ol* gypsum, which h.'.s To!" years heen inipoilei! info our 
sate iu inmiense <jtianti'.!«s, i'yuiu the Dsiliih tU>i)iinJori8. 
fias h'.eji (liseoveitd io (he Isearl of our weyleru disdiet, its 
jui xhaustihie quantilifs. It is ihat sutc I'j sjesUitr of the 
f<"i|, liuit \n VM'vy p;.il of om- e\tt iided (oiritoiy, exeeplj/rj; 
(III ihe scah.iaid, skives lite, ^ii^os" atnl ahuiulaiiee, lo all the 
most ^aluahh^ ai'lielcs (»!" coiijuinijliort (hj.unhint on Mihixu-^ 
(iut;. Two large huh of (his u iuvrai h^^^ «li'-'.'0\»'!< d ^''iJ'- 



13 

iiii^" the last season in iIkm.oujiIj of Onondai^ii, in oxi-avaliiif* 
the I'oiile of the Cri'cal AVesJci!) Cana!, and laa he aifoijlrd 
in any part of onr state, at fioiii ihiee to live (ioHais pes' 
Jon. 'I'!ie. rieli mail fouisd in i^reat alx.Jndanee a( the west, 
fiis also Ifeen proved to he of niueli uiilliv in promoting- th<i 
growth and aihanthujce of ve^vtailon. 

Next to a feriile soil and u he>i!thy eliiuate, eonvenieni, 
iegulav, and piofitable nrarkets for the disposal ofsuiplu'^ 
j)ioduee, nainrallj come under eonsiderafiofs. In (his i-espet t, 
New-York stands pre-eminent. One u(!ri\alled advanlaj^es? 
for oommerce and internal eonvevance; she im[>rovciiitnirf 
no'.v luakini^ by onr state go\ernr!ient, on a stale that 
eclipses all the enlerprize of Kni(»i)e for (he last centur;>, 
i^'lves the assuianee of a s\!lem of inhii;d cojinsiunivuiiun !m 
r»»ads and canals, unsur[>assed, foi' grandeur arid nti'ifv. !iv 
any country in (he nniver^e. The union <if t!ie Hudson as (I 
lake Champlain, hy the aoriijirn canal, f(»risis vi j^teal arid 
never failing* channel fioni north to south ,• the uesleiM 
♦•anal, IVoni the Hiidson to lake Krie, foruiS auosher spa- 
cious chaiuul from the eas(er!i to l!ie western CNtreiiiities cf 
our state. 'I'akifj-^ into view, (he trihutary sireaius wiiich 
eni[Hy into Lak«i Chusnplain, tiie Hudson, aiid (he Z^Iohawk ; 
(lie riveis, creeks, and smail lakes, which wiil he unitt«l 
to the line of the western canal; (aklng isjto vie.*, also. 
tiie canal whicli can easily unite the iJeiawaie river to ihw 
mouth of (he Hudson, whicii the inierests of t\«o slates de- 
uiand ; and besides all (his, !i;e nunserous roads (hat wif 
Jnlerseet liie two great, as wvW as (he siMall chauucls of 
conveyance, and we may safely chaileiige iho face of cica- 
iion, ai!il (he wide compass of human diseovery, lo piowuce 
a grander speciacle of all (hat is eminent iy favorable to in- 
land trade, ilere, then, \^ill agriculture ihul an euionrage- 
inent and an iii)[)nlse of the derpesl monuiil (o its iuK'seMr, 
Every surplus product wiil Had a safe, ( h« ap, ai.diasiid 
conveyance to u ready maikel. Articles of necessary c(*n- 
sumpdon. us a reluming < !|u;vulcntj will mctt with like i'a- 



14 

t'iiijii's of {•oavcv-.uice, iVoiu the scabtjaid fo their ajiju'oprialc 
<it't>(in;^'. Agiiiiilhire, !)v the«c cnc«ttini,q:oiuc!i(s, will reci'ive 
a lil'e and vigoi- iliul uill (!t'[)end on no iiiciilontul sJafe of 
iiiings, ImiI a Jilo and vlgoi' lasliiiij as (lie physical euneidtu 
lion of our IiiHs and oiii- vallios. 

Whai liniils are, hcieaCtei', (o hound our agriiMiltural eu- 
UMjnize and greatness, We sliall not ventuj-e (o say; bnt let 
us for a moment indiilj^e in coiupurisonf the only method to 
ascertain the nragnidide of objects, l^et ns east our ejes 
over the state of New-Yoik, and tJjen take tlic map of Eng- 
land in one .hand and the picture of her resources in the otiier, 
aiu! pondci- on the extent of her agricultural riches. 
Kns^hdiid js a cotuitr'y possessing less natural advantages than 
oiir own state. Including Wales, G. Biitain contains i9, 000 
ss|!sare uiih's, making no( far from 31,000,000 ofacics. New- 
York co!iiainsK),000 square miles making over 29,000,000 of 
acres. England has more waste lands than the state of New- 
York. Her nsounlaifjsare sterile and harren ; her bogs,heaths, 
and ehal!;j lands, as well as hei' large tracts of loose spongy 
groritid, are not known as characteristics in our soil. Her 
climate possesses few or no advantages over our own. The 
articles of consumption congenial to our soil, will maintain a 
couipetitioa wiih Ir^is, and our fruit is far hetter. All kinds 
of dor.icsiie aninr.iis, to whose growth England assigns an 
inijKU'tant [»art of hei- v.calth, subsist as well here as in (ire.it 
hiitain.* \\ e mu^t, also, lecfdli-et (Ir.it the parks, eom- 
!!U>us, and pleasure gr((un<is, take (i|) a large (eri'irory in 
?^nglai)d : tliat her tenures ave l\ur<lenson)e, her taxes mon- 
strous, liCi* e\|!or{s shackbd, her ciillixalors oppressed, and 
j!0 sijsail jHtrtion ol'lu'r jtojuaaiii-'U composed of nobility, gen- 
th'Juen, proression-il use!!, soidiers, placemen, sinecurists, 
spies, servauls. aiul pauJfcrs. Erom t!ie most i*ational ealcu- 

* The wliolo iiu'.r.lior ol" sb.cep i:i (his stale was cstinialed at 
1 .110,0 14, (bur or il\e yeais since. ISeat cattle, 863,298. llorses, 
527,. -370 — agijregate, 2,850,952. TJie iiiuiiber now is much 
larger. — Spujfhi-d's Gaz. p. 51. 



. 15 

laijons, tliO cultivators of the soil rail considerably slioH of 
Iwu millions in England a:id \>'alc's.* Yet, under all these 
circunislancos, Avhat has En^^lanu iionc as an a^iieuldirul 
nation ? 

An eminent English AViiter, c(jually distinguislicd for his 
candor and aljili(ies,f has estinrdted that the uoalili which 
is annually (teated hy the cultivation of the soil ofCireat 
Britain and Ireland, amounts to no less than o£'216.8f 7,G*iji.. 
He gives Ireland two-fifths of this amount, which* whesi 
deducted from the wljole estimate, leaves an annual cre- 
ation of wealth fiom tlie soil of En.^latid and ^yaIes alone, 
tlie cnoruious amount of „tl 30,090.574, or S575, 580,328. 
Here then is nearly SIX HUNDRED MILLIONS OF 
DOLLiiilS, annually wrung from the British soil, pos- 
sessing inferior attributes and properties to the soil of New- 
Yoik ! The able !)ook ciititied " Britain Independent of Com- 
mei'ce," estimates the annual creation of property in Eng- 
land, by means of agriculture, to be =£120,000,000,- but the 
estimates of Mr. Colquhoun are obtained from more accur- 
ate sources, and more correct. Even Ireland gives an annual 
creation of wealth from the cultivation of her soil to the 
amount of S38.^,i.55,2l3, if we take the calculations of the 
above author as a data. England and Ireland together pro- 
duce an annual wcaltli fiom the cuUivation of the soil of the 
amount of S9CL,130,5il. And yet England did little or no- 
thing for her agriculture and rural economy until the time 
of Queen Elizabeth : and in fact, never brought tills branch 
of industry to any general perfection, until the establishment 
of her Board of Agkicultuke. 

* From the result of tlie population act, it appears, that of the 
8,300,000 persons, which Eliigland then coiKaiucd. only 1,524,000 
were chiefly employed in agriculture ; so that of llie I2,000,noo 
which Great Rritain, inciuding Wales, is .siii)posed to contain 
now, there cannot be inipiiled to he mure than one-sLvth pait cui- 
ployed in cidtivaling tiic earth. — Vide Britain Independent of 
Commerce, p. 47. 

tColquhoun's WealtJi, Power, and Resoufce? of the British 
Cmpire. 



16 

Wc as'c Moi pulfla;, »he pi'csrnt a;^i'icuUui m) ic^ourecsof 
the slvUi." (it" Nou-Yo'.k Uj S!ie siJe of those of Groat Lirituii!. 
We are oiii^ siig',u;*'s!"u)g. by v.a;> oCeouipas-i-ion, \\!iat New- 
'i'o.k casj do at a i'liUirc jHMioil, aail tlic neeessitv oTcoin- 
ujencirij^ Iwv career oi' inipi'ovemeiit on a _i^iTa( scale, at 
nac present iiioisient, Wc rtuist i-eeo!lec(, (hat wliilc the 
popiihition of Evaghuui does not doir>li5 oaee in 100 years. 
ours doubles oaee it) 29 years. Ihi! a lew years more, and 
>ve siiall have as nuieh efleetive loree ensployed in the eulli- 
Yation of our lands as England now has, and the frui(s oF 
onr labor will not he devoured hy tax-j^atherers — oxeise oili- 
ecrs — a proiligale, iilic nohility — .rsnies — subsidies — sinc- 
cnrisls — ;dae»'nien — servatits — and jKUipers: but they will i:;o 
to enrieh a great and enterprising eoninumiJy. "S"^ ith alj our 
pride ami love oT national greatness, >vc cannot realize the 
resources of our country oi- of our s!nle. 'i'liey nnl'old un- 
seen, and iss^tonish us, a( times, with (iu'ir v^onderi'ii! divei- 
openienL The tonnage orXew-York is now i"ar greatei- thvm 
Avas (hat of England at the time oi'hej' defeating (lie S-pani-ih 
:'.rniada. when Spain was mistress of the ocean — um) even 
g!-eaier than titat of England one cenliny ago. If a stale 
^vould be great, she must elevate h(;r thoiigliis lo the stan- 
dard of greatness, and let her efforts coiisport with her \iews 
and conceptions. 

We sliall now consider wlsa! branches of knowledgi' are 
connected with agriculture, as a science. 

There is an apparent siaiplieily in Agrii-uliuval pnrsuiis, 
Mliieh, in unreilecting liiinds, furhids tiie bold innovation of 
experijuenial iniprovemenis. Such has been (he beneiieenee. 
of the Creator in giving to tlie eartli (jjose inhei-ent propei- 
(ies which sustain the hnnvan race, that we alnjosl forgi^t the 
itecessily of inijn'oving those bounties to (he I'ldi < x(en( to 
Mhieh (hey arc capable of heiiig enjoyed, 'i'lius (he dkui of 
elevated reflections and deep inlellccdia! leseareli, n;i(uial!y 
directs his eyes to o!>jee(s which he falsely deeisis of greaiei- 
importance to Dsankiad ; while the cuUivator of the suil 



17 

»k'i^as aot (o how to the shi-inc of sescMcc and philosopliv, 
«h;it he m-Ay hori'ow light and knowleilgc (o iri'adiafc I ho 
sphere oThis useful exertions. The hist few years, liowever, 
have produced a great and salutary revolutioa in these opin 
ions. 'J'he most abstruse seienees have heen applied to the 
urdiuajy pursuits of inthislry, and hroa;;ht home (o all llic 
ronveniences of life, and (heir happy tendeney and inllueuce 
have heen fully s.'en and acknowledged. 

In Uiaking agiicultural improvements, it is requisite to 
have an accurate knowledge of the climate of the country, 
and an intimate acquaintance with (he efTeets which its 
clianges and vicissitudes have on dilFercnt kinds of soil, and 
^lifferent species of vegetation, and a knowledge of all the 
vegetable productions congenial to its nature. In considering 
the climate of a country, in relation to agriculture, an emi- 
aent English writer embraces the following points :— :Its ge- 
neral character, and the means of its injprovemenf — Its Iieat 
— The quaistity of its moisture — The prevailing winds — Its 
j^osition, wliether maritime or inland — The regularity of the 
^seasons — T!ic plienomena to which it is liable — The produc- 
tions best suited to it — The introduction of exotic plants and 
aniiisals from other climates.* Here then it becomes ne- 
cessary to know the properties of what some writers on agii- 
?Mi!ture call (lie aerial kingdom, and also to possess an inti- 
snate acquaintance with the vegetable kingdom. 

A knowledge of the soil with all its different intrinsic vir- 
tues, is next to he considei-ed. The writer before alluded (o. 
has divided soil into seven kinds — sand, gravel, clay, chalks 
peat, alluvial, and loam, the artificial soil created by working 
«he other s«ils. It is requisite to understand (he nature ot 
all these different soils, the extent to which they are mixed 
or partake of each other in many cases, the sub-soils or un- 
der stratums on whiidi (hey rest, and the different produc 
iions which are suitable to their nature and eonsJitulion. 



* Sincla.ir''s Code of A<jririillui-o, pajre 4 



IS 

The culiivaisoii ui' jhc soi! comes noxt in view. This in- 
cudes evcrv a! tilkial iiuj)rovfin('r.t dial (oiuls (o reclaim and 
promote tlio {'oi'tililv and value of lands, ami ihtir eonveisiou 

10 that comlilion of texlure and consistence thai >vill mosj 
favorahly advance Ihc jj! outh of afi kinds of valuable vcgc- 
lation to the exclusion of all that is detrinicnlal or noxious. 

11 is requisite for the cultivulor to understand the nature and 
strength of (lifferent kinds of manures, the proper degree* 
or extent of their ripplieaiion, uliat kinds of agricullura? 
products are suitable to various soils, and how their growl h 
and abundance can be most salisfactoril,v produced, 'i he 
management of arable and grass lands alone, omitting everv 
thing else in the economy of agriculture, presents an im- 
mense field for experiment, ingenuity, and invention. Dr. 
Uecs, in his valuable arlielo on agriculture, instances the fol- 
lowing branches as belonging to the improvement of arable 
and grass lands. 

The inclosing and making of fences, us hedges, ditches, 
walls, railings, palings, gates, draining, paring and burning, 
watering, warping, fallowing, ploughing, manurhig. sowing. 
Iiairowing, weeding, hoeing; the growing and preserving of 
different sorts of crops, as wheat, rye, barley, oats, beans, 
peas, potatoes, turnips, carrots, cabbages, hops, hemp, fiax. 
woad, madder, ^e. ; and the raising of various kinds of 
seeds, as raiie, mustard, &c. ; rotation of crops, rcBpIng, 
mowing, stacking, thrashing ; the management of aitificial 
and natural grasses, as clover, lucern, saintfoin, tares, vetch- 
es, tVc. ; the converting of arable lands to grass, meadows, 
pastures, hay-making; the cultivating and preserving of 
fruits, as apples, pilars, cliei'ries, ^.e. ; and the preparation 
of fruit liquors, as cider, perry, kc. ; orchards ; the plant- 
ing of timber-trees, woods, coppices, |jlantiitions, &c. 

The management of fruit and the cultivation of fruit trees 
is daily becoming of nmre importance in this country. It i.«i 
evident that many foreign fruits found in various parts of the 
globe, will bear transplanting into our soil, and produce theiv 



houixics with all the vigor and almndanne incident (o iheii 
native regions. The cultivation of IVuit trees ah)ne presents 
an intricate and important science, and a science that is don 
h!j necessary to he kno\vn in our country-, considering our re- 
cent existence, the ncMnessoi* our hinds, the ease with which 
we can raise foreign fruits, our want of experience, and the 
vast field for improvement which is before us. 

The importation of difTcrent spocies of grain, and, in fact, 
the procuring of all kinds of seeds from foreign regions to 
prove their favorable or un(avora{)lc adoption in our country* 
is deeply intportant and necessary at tlje present stage of our 
sigricultural history. We have not yet applied the scrutiniz- 
ing touch of experiment, in this respect, to tliat extent which 
which our prosperity demands. Sonic regular and persever- 
ing system of coirespondence with distant rpiartcrs of tUi 
globe is requisite at this period. 

The rearing of live stock in agricultural countries is an ob- 
ject of the first consequence, and considered worthy of at- 
tainments in knowledge that can only be acquired by a long, 
constant, and philosophical attention. In England as well as 
in various other countries of Europe, lite improvements in 
different breeds of cattle, horses, sheep, and other domestic 
animals, has engrossed the watchful patronage and consider- 
ation of eminent and scientific men, and demands tlte sanie, 
and even greater weight here, because our country, in this 
respect, lias done but little in comparison to her means and 
advantages. The species of live stock best adapted to dif- 
ferent sections of the country ; the means of improving them 
by crossing the blood, administering nutriment, and other- 
wise ; the f«od most genial to their growth and constitution^ 
H.ie economical expenditure of nourishment ;* the difterent 

* The amount of food consumed by live stock in Ensjland, 
strongly presents Uie magnitude of the subject. The qitantitvof 
wheat, barley, oats, rye, beans, and peas, consumed by man, in 
Great Britain, has been estimated at 18,750,000 quarters; b}' 
ctnimats, at 1 i ;829,000 quarters. The number of boises in Great 



20 

habits of anininis, with a knowledge of tJiiii (list ;isos and. 
i1»e jji'opcr application for their renied^v and cure — these nn- 
aiierous points present us uith o!>jeets o!' loo much conse- 
<j«encc and import to be left to the sport of time, accident, 
-and inattention I 

'i1ie implements of husbandiT, in the cultivation of tlio 
^oii, strirtly pertain to agricultural improvements. Proper 
tools in tillage dimini!^h expense, save labor, and enable the 
farmer to vest a greater portion of his capital in his rural 
occupation. Thert; is a great drlieiencv in this respect in 
many parts of the United States. Our implements are hea- 
vy, awkward, and unwieldy, consuming in their use an im- 

Bi'itain and Iicland is cslinialcd at 1,800,000; Iiori]-rd cattle, 
10,000,000; slieep and laiiii)s, 42,ooo,00(; ; all of tliriii coiisimi- 
jns; bay, gia>s, straw, vetches, turnips, caiiotSj and grain to lite 
amoinit ot\t' 103.400,000. 

l_Culquhoun-s Resources Brit. Emp, 

f The following extract fiom a London paper shews the en- 
coiiragomcnl to raising excellent cattle : 

" The loUowingextiaoi-dinary sale of stock of the improved 
short-horned breed, took place at the sale ofMr. Robert Colling, ot 
Barmpton, near Darlington, ^bo has long been celebrated as ais 
agriculturist of the lirst class, and who.se stock was biougbt to 
the bamwuT on the 29tb and 30tb of August : 

One 2 year old cow, sold for 33! guineas. 
One 4 year old cow, do. 300 do. 

One 5 year old cow, do. 570 do. 

One 1 year old bull calf, do. 270 do. 
One 4 year old bull, do. 6'2l* do. 

And it ap])cars by the catalogue with printed prices aflixed. 
that 

34 cows sold lor 4141 guineas. 

17 heiCers do. 1287 do. 

6 bulls do. 1343 do. 

4 bull calves do. 713 do. 

6\ bead of cattle sold for, total, 7484 guineas — or 
.f;:>A,9\2 86, 

[The above cattle are of the breed of the imported bull fxlii- 
bilcd at Brighton, iMass in October lasi.l 

>sOr Sl,';o9 55 



2i 

mcjise labor of horses, oxen, anil men. TIjcse are evils 
^vliicU our chaiacleristic lueclianical ingeniiiJy could easily 
remedy, widi proper aftentrbn an<l ciicouragenKnl. The 
Code of Ai^rieultuic classes iinplenicnts of huisbandiy under 
llie ioliowiny; heads — 1, Implements of Ullage; :2, for 
Diilling or Sowing Corn ; 3, for IJeaping Corn ; i, for Har- 
vesting Corn ; fi, for i Isrejjihing' and Clcanitig Corn ; 6, for 
Moving and Ilarvesfing Hay ; 7, for Conveyance and Trans- 
portation ; 8, for Draining ; 9, for Ilarnessing Stock; 10, 
lor Rolling Land ; 11, for Dairy; and 12, for various ]Mi«- 
tellaneous j)urposes — p. G6. The inventions and improve- 
ments to he made in this (lepartment require no ordinary in 
genuity and expense. 

Here then is a slight view of what pertains to agriculture 
In this and other countries. 

Koads and canals liave been viewed as important featiircs 
in the agricultural sjstetns of Europe. Railways, hail)our.s, 
embankments, and out-buildings, are also considered as const! 
iiient parts of the same great plan to pronjote the nteans of 
sustaining nations through the cultivalio!» of the earth 
Roads and canals are certainly of vast importance in bring- 
ing good markets, virtually, to (he very doors of the farmer, 
and opening new and easy sources of diffusion to all the pro- 
duct ions of the soil. In the state of New-Yoik, this truth 
is duly estimated, and under the wise and liberal guidance of 
our present state goveinment, will be fully realized : in a na- 
tional point of view, we have made no great movements to 
?his end. 

On what, then, does the science of agricnldire rest r Jg 
si indeed ati humble art, confined to a sphere that is «!epres- 
sed an«l contracted, and ou\y to be itnproved by those who 
turn the glebe, scatter the seed, and reap the harvest ? Docs 
not the science of agriculture, even in the brief and partial 
view which we have taken of it, rest its foundation on a, 
knowledge of natural philosophy, so far as to decide on the 
nature and changes of climate, a knowledge of mineralogy, 



9^ 

l)0(any, qpology, and ihtnushy, r.n<] oS" naliirai hisjojy, {a 
\\\Q lacitude that <lie iraiing and nonrislnTicMif of live stock 
is involved ; and iiit\y we not t'\en include ihe mochanicalarts, 
in as much as tlicv aj'c connected with la!)or-saving imple- 
ments of husbaiuliy, and other external inipiovenients ? And 
>viil it he pielended hj the considerate, tiie libeial and re- 
llecfint; posiion of conininnily, that agricnldne, vhose sne- 
ccssfnl encoiifageuient in^idves hianches ol" knowledge so 
ileep and intricate, should he left to n»ake its own progress 
to pi'ii'ection, as (ijne, accident, and ignorance shall dictate? 
Shall the fundamental and vital art that sustains all others, 
he left (he deformed victim of habit, pcnnrj, and prejudice? 
\\\' beiievc, nay, we know, that there is a proud and enter- 
prising spirit in our community, and among our farming inte- 
rest too, that brands with indelible marks of denimciation, 
sucii a supposition as this. Our agriculture must, and Avill 
receive, in the state of New-York, the solid and growing pa 
tronage of an intelligent people, and a wise and energetic 
government. 

To say tiiat agriculture does not need (he extraneous aids- 
which science can extend — to maintain that it wants not the 
liglit of those experiments and suggestions, which are the in- 
vaiirable offspring of great men's researches and reflections, 
is paying a degrading tribute to the triumph of ignorance, 
and weaving garlands around the brows of stupidity. It is 
discarding common sense and extinguishing the light of truth, 
when such acts blast the interests of communities and states, 
and cast a disgraceful blot on the lustre of the age. *' Leave 
ilicfdvmcrf; lo Ihfinsef't-cs" is a common remark, and it is a 
remark that is (diaracteristie of a cold lieait, a penni'ious 
spirit, and a weak mind. It would as well apply to all the 
occupations that engross the labors of mankind, as to the art 
of liilagc. To whom arc we indebted for those philosophi- 
«"a! improvements which are applicable to domestic purposes, 
and extend, to an immeasurable degree, the blessings of ex- 
istence r ^Vho invented the compass which directs (he ship 



23 

iliroiigli unknown seas ? was it the sailor who manages ihi^ 
vessel ? Who iuveuled the leiescope or the quadrant ? was 
it the meehanies wlio inaniiraclui'etl tliein ov the men who 
leap the benefits of tlie invention ? Who tliseovercd the pro- 
pelling power of steam, as applied to boats fos* transportation ? 
%vas it the meehanies who made the maeliiuery oi* the Uieii 
who direct the barque through the waters? Who saved the 
labors of utiilions in the nuwuifaolories of Europe, bv the in- 
vention of labor-saving maehinerv ? was it the meehanies 
who eonstruct the machines or the raanufaeturers who arc 
benefitted by their creation r — No ; it was men w hose labors 
and investigations were of a higher order, ami who were 
raised up to gladden and adorn the history of ages — 'tNvas the 
Newtons, the llcrsehels, the Pricstlejs, the Arkwrights, tlie 
Fultons and Franklins of the times, who elevated seienee (o 
other worlds, and broiiglit down her inspirations to bless the 
linmblest departments of the earth whieh we inhabit — to 
poiir Hoods of light and knowledge on the walks of industry 
an<l domestie convcnieuec. — -Had you left the mecJianics tmd 
artlzans to themselves, the measure of their usefulness would 
now be settled by a far different standard. It has been to 
such men as Dr. Fordyce, Sir Arthur Young, Dr. Anderson, 
the Duke of Bedford, Sir John Sinclair, and Sir Iluuiphrey 
Davey, that England is in a great measure indebted for her 
greatness as an agricultural nation. Sir Humphrey Davey 
lias delivered a profound and able course of lectures on xVgri- 
cultural Chemistry, whieh he will hereafter leave as an in- 
valuable legacy to mankind, ao<J which has rendered iiim an 
illustrious benefactor to after generations. 

We must all agree, that agriculture, in many countries in 
Europe, has, within the last century, been vastly improved. 
The modei-ns have far exceeded the ancients. T>y what: 
means have they done it — by leaving the farmers to them- 
selvcsl- have thoy been left to apply the science of botany, 
ehcmisfr} , miueralogy, and geology to their useful labors ? 
will any one have (be hardihood io deny the beneficial appli- 



24 

(nation of these bianeiics oT science io agricuKuial attain- 
iueats ? uliat but eliemistrv taiiji;!it us the virtues of gypsum, 
ihe gieat and woudctrul IVuctiiicr of our soil ? 

Let us inquire, then, how other nations have rapidly pro- 
gressed in agricultural iuiprovements, and by what means 
the sJate of JXew-York must advance this fundamental branch 
of industry, this true and unfailing support of Iier strength 
and grandeur. 

In the invesligation of any particular system of public po- 
licy in this country, in relation (o a specilic object, it is con- 
sistent and necessary to look at the course pursued by other 
nations. If their plans have been successful : the means by 
v,hich they have been promoted and executed, should be the 
subject of inquiry and adoption, wben practicability will 
sanction it. In France, in Italy, Germany. Sweden, Den- 
mark, England, and other European countries, the art of 
(illage has been carried to a great height of perfection. 
This has been effected by a systematic course of measures, 
eomnienccd with liberality, and jMosecuted with unceasing 
energy and perseverance. In point of natural advantages 
oar own state, as we have shown, is equal to any country in 
Europe, of the same extent, wiien the whole compass of our 
physical resouices is taken into considei'alion. Will the 
jacans, tlien which have been embraced in European nations 
to reach this state of improvement, have the same tendency 
here, or have we the ability to adopt these means ? 

In modern Euj'ope, Agricullare for several centuries, was 
doomed to struggle in daikness and neglect. Commerce and 
manufacture, alluring and gratifying a spirit of trafire and 
avarice, preferred a more paipa!)!e claim to enterprize and 
* invention, tijan the cultivation of the soil. It was not, until 
ijie most distinguished classes of society perceived the high 
intportance of giving to the occupation that maintains all 
others — it was not, unli! public writers and political econo- 
mists, pointed out, hy convincing and unanswerable reasons, 
the necessity of its preference and tiu* ground of it^ c ounce- 



25 

>!0U \\\{\i natiosial \vc:i](]i, power ami happiijcs?!, (|jat jJs jlesr 
tinleswore a inoic illustrious cast and weic doomed (o e.\- 
hilnt a inos'C suefessrul eairei'. 

At thi; peace of Alx-Ia-Cliapellc in (he year 17>S, we llnd 
{hat tlu- (!ifl«reiit European .govern men ts, emhraciiig- in (lie 
scope oi'dicir policy, (he most dis(inguished men of (Iieir 
times, eommeueed a lihera! and high-minded system oC vu- 
couragenient to all (he ar(s of hiishandry. In Italy, a coun- 
try whose hrillian( acquisitions in the arts and sciences, have 
given her a celehrity thai no political degradation can <le- 
stroy, men of science and lame couimence<! (heir laudahh' 
exertions, and imparted (o agriculture, all (he assistance 
which learning. s(u(!yund expeiimcn( could ex(eiul. In (he 
i\eapoli(an dominions, Tuscany, Sardinia and Ferrare, and 
at odier places, hooks 0:1 (his subject were written, tiansia 
ted and diilused, and men of eminent acf|uirei5ients sent 
ahroad to collect inlbrmafion. Princes and suhjects were 
alikescized with a kind ofenthustusm, and rapid progress was 
made in every species ofruru! economy. The universities oT 
Dcnmark,Svveden and Germany, at the, same period, instituted 
extensive and luminoMs courses of agricislfaral lectures, and 
disseminated light and imp roveaient to tite neasantry and 
cultivators in every quarter of the difil-rent countries. 'J'hc 
courts of Denmark, Sweden and Germany took a peculiar 
interest in every exertion ofthis description. In Switzerland 
learned associations were formed, cor.sisting oi'the first ntcn 
in the different Cantons, w ho made henelicial experiments, 
and opened an extensive correspondence wirii the various 
states of Europe. We ougiit not here to Vov^ct the (wo jour- 
nals printed at Leipsic and Hanover, one called the Journal 
d'Agriculture, and (he o(her (he RecuciJs d'llanovre, wliieh 
did much to inform the north of Europe and enlarge the- 
sphere of this useful science. The great and immortal Lin- 
nreus, devoted a great portion of his time to improvements in 
this department of ustful lahor, and more particularly in re- 
lation to food for live stock, and drew round him a cohtc- 



26 

giition" ot'ier.iiR'd disciples, mIio ardently disseniiiiakd fii';* 
♦■nligliJcJud docji jiu's. In France, Le>vis XY. like a Viiae: 
prinec, siipciinCendcd, in person, tiie eneouiagensent of agrj- 
cul(u!e, bv attending- e.xpeiiinents, distribiitin,^ favors '.\rA 
rew'.iids ft>r aels (trprorieieney, and by lendeiing it tlie in 
voriie pnisuit of the Freneh people. Extensive soeieti<">; 
were eslablisbed at Tours an<l Kouen, the academics of J,y 
ons and Boideanx instituted prize questions, and the univer 
sity at Amiens s!ied light and trntlj on many inspmlant sub- 
jects. Philositphieal tracts and literary publications Imve 
also done much in France lor the successful cn](iva(ion of 
her fertile lands. I'hc Annals of Agriculture, the Edin- 
burgh Encyclopedia and Dr. Kees Cyclopedia ailord a partic- 
ular account of these improvements, 

England lias done njoj-e than any o(her state in Europe Tor 
the encouragement of agriculture, asid her successful exer 
tions have been comparitivcly speaking, of recent date. 
Sonic cfToi'ls wcic indeed made under the reign cf Queen 
Elizabeth, duiing tjie protectorshij) of Cromwell, and under 
(he governmenl of the Stewarts; but they were seaOrredi. 
feeble and partial r.iovenienls. It was not until the middle 
of theeighteentli century that we can iix the era of her vast 
imjH'oveinents. Since that period, the writings of Young, 
Marshall, Anderson, Bakewell, Ford^ce, Nesmeidi, Sul 
clinV, and others, have had a poiverful and salutary tenden- 
cy. But it is to the Biitish Board of Asrriculture JJiat Eni?- 
land is indebted, to all incalculable, extent, for her present 
superiority and greatness in this branch of political economy. 
'Ihis board, which was established by the bold and patriot ie 
iwcrtions of Sir John Sinclair, a man whose name should be 
lionored by every culfivator of the soil and the friends of ag- 
riculture in every country, has produced effects as lasting 
as the power of England, and of more consequence to man- 
kind than all her brilliant military exploits. Ihis institu- 
tion, which holds out a {iroud arid illustrious example to ev- 
ery civilized nation on the globe, has been the heart and een- 



Uii of (iic lil•i!t!^!! n,;^rieuUarui sjsteuK it has eoUceied and 
dilfased knov.ii'dgc as llic scat of ituman existence receives 
:iij<! sends foriii the euri'ents ol'liiV. Its iiMprovfrsicnts isavc 
been fiindaiucnta! and radical, and llieir benefits i'oil tlie grasp 
ofeak'ulatioii. It is tiie iuuiidation of a splendid supersti'uc- 
im'G in agricisUuval science and industry, that will stand a 
glorious coliUAH to eomnienjorate the march of civilization. 
This boaiii ;"i;alhers knew ledge From ail parts of the world, 
procures specintcns of every valuable production in distant 
eliioates, procures all domestic animals worthy of encourage- 
siicjjt, obiains a knowledge af all new discoveries and inven- 
tions, fosters salutary experiments, brings new principles in- 
^0 operation, rewards all distinguislied improvements, and 
lastly, extends the fruit of its researches and acquisitions to 
every cottage and tenant in the British dominions. Let 
iSjese facts be duly weighed. 

Two inquiries may here be made — 1st. Does the present 
feondilion of agriculture, in the state of New-York, demand 
Siie eneouintgemi'nt of government, anjl such encouragement 
as foreign nations have extended ? 2d. Have we the ability 
and resources to give this patronage ? 

Isf. What, let us euqture, have we done for the science of 
agriculture ? What public countenance, what indications of 
a praiecting and fostering policy, has it received at the hands 
of our state governujent ? The direct answer to those ques- 
tions i.jay be fou;id in tiie Jleport oS" the joint committee isi 
the iSJe\\-Yock legislature on that part of governor Clinton's 
inaugural sjieech, which recommends ihv estabiishmei.t of 
an agricultural board. Speaking of agriculture, the report 
observes : — •« Aithougl! its investigation is full of useful in- 
struction, and, pregnant in results of vital importance to the 
present and future generations, and opens a wide field for 
the coatemplation of philosophy, agricultural science and 
patriotism ; and although we are persuaded, that there is 
no country on earth, whose inhabitants are better informed 
—better fed, and who have a higher sense of respect, and all 



2S 

those iiKiiilvseiilitncuiS v.hieJi dijjjiiirj' liuman nature : yet it 
in painful to adiU that n-e are this moment in « state of ah- 
solutc ignorcuice inthcjirstpviucipks nfthcfrd of sciences, 
as connected 7cith clicmistni. lie are. ulso unacquainted 
n-ith thcfnndamenfal grounds of those great modern im- 
proTcments in agricnltnreo as it is now practised in England 
and other countries of Europe."* This was the language 
of (he Nevv-Yoik k'glslatui'c one vear ago ,• it was the voice 
of oui- most distinguished men. gathered togeiher fioni all 
Y>arts of the state, speaking in (he capacity ofiheip high po- 
litical functions, and speaking too, from facts that sustained 
their asseitions. ^Ve iiave made no great general exertion 
towards a radical change in this fundamental hraneh of in- 
d!!s(ry. Cities and vilhiges liave clustered in the great Mcst- 
cin section of our state ; a population nohle in views, ricli 
in spiiit, and liberal in action, have erected monuinenls of 
ifuproventent in every section of their country. 'I'hey sus- 
tain, to a proper extent, our plans of internal trade; taste 
exhibits her decorations amid the comforts and luxuries of 
life : and science has heeu welcomed to temples woithy of 
her residence ; hut it has been left for the few last months 
to show the su'islantial support of all these blessings, receiv- 
ing the appropriate devotions of public spirit. Tlie farmers 
viioare located on the l)orders of our two great rivers, pos- 
sessing the advantages of a fertile soil, enjoying ease, plenty 
nnd independence, and cherishing notions of husbandry. 
^\hieh, in many cases, uere brought from Europe at a peri- 
od when agi icutlurc was in a far difiVi'ent state from what 
it is now. in the same qnaricr of the world, have not struck 
out new ranges of impi'oveiisent. To this remark, there are, 
fiowever. Iioiiorable exfeptions. 'i'liat poition of our com- 
munity which occupy (Ije seaffoatd. have been interested, 
with a partial reservation, in comnieicial pursuits, and as we 
should consistenlly expect, under past circumstances, have 

* A'itle Mr. Livingston's Kcnort iu Nrw-'V'nrk senate. Februa^ 
rv 2. i a : ?, .lournai.s. n. I U'. ' 



29 

rtoi piH)Jucc<l any emiuent acqiuishions in the science of wliich 
we are trealiui;. It is not to be denied, that in tlie stale of 
New-York, there are men and cullivafors of farms, wiio 
confer nuK-h resi)eetahility upon the pursuits of husbandry ; 
but we mean to attach general features to our remarks, ami 
we do say tliat New-York, in agricultural attainments, is fur 
Ijehind some of her sister states. She is behind ]\2assaehu- 
setts, wlio deserves lasting credit for her high minded exer- 
tions in this respect ; she is behind Connecticut — she is be- 
hind Pennsylvania, and, on some accounts, beiiind Virginia.* 
New- York, second to none of her associates in the confedera- 
cy, has grossly slighted the mighty means placed in her hands 
for great purposes, and disgracefully slumbered over her 
neglected resources. She has not slept like the yoiing lion 
in his covert, whon weakness dictates quietude and timidity ; 
but she has slept like the lion, v/aen his eye kindles in con- 
scious majesty, and his limbs have waxed strong for domin- 
ion. Had the leading and powerful men of our state combin- 
ed their efforts with the farming interest, ten years ago, to 
raise the condition of agriculture ; had systems been formed 
to encourage bold and original efforts and to spread the bles- 
sings of intelligence ; had gi-cat minds led the way and 
corresponding exertions followed ; we should now have stood 
the admiration ofthe Ameiican people, tiie admiration ofolh- 
cr nations, and tlie proud and cheering example worthy of 
universal imitation. What has not been done, only shows 
what must be done. It now l)ecomes us to lay the foundatio'i 
of an agricultural wealth and greatness that is to remain i'lu- 
ages. Let the basis be iirm, deep and broad, that the co- 
lumns of the noble fabric may triiiinphantly fi*o\vn on ihe de- 
j)redations of time, and the revolutions lljat move in her fear- 
ful train. 



* Timothy Pickeiiiig in i\I:j.ssaclm.selts, auil James Madison in 
Virginia, have both dclivorecl agriculliiral addresses duiin-^ tlit* 
'ast season. Tlie asc orUie Kouian Snges lias ievivcd. 



30 

Dnr ijcxi iiiijuirj is, iuivc we tin.' 5iira:i-> aiu] abiiify oT ea- 
tahijshiiif;; and supporting- a Board of Ajj^iitMilture m (lie slvitv 
of ^Jfw-Yoik ? Fi'osii (he shores of !lic ocean fo (he shores 
of the lakes, from the holders of the Hudson to the sources 
of the Aliei^auy and Siisquehasina, the deep-toned response 
is, YKs! It is ananswer that hursts from a thousand hiii^, 
and eehoes through a thousand vallies. It is an irresislihh. 
expression tliat springs from (he cnnvie.ljons of a great people. 
It vanquishes every {louht, and siienees Ihefaint and scatter- 
ed niiirnauings of prejudice. 

States and cmpises move wiJii an impulse wliose sJrcngtlj 
and efiieieney hears u proportion to tiie magnirutle of ihe 
inciting objects. When a nalion once enters the broad roatS 
to greatness, under auspices which favor a long and success- 
ful career, she moves on in the plenid'de of her power and 
energy, until she reaches and accomplislies every end and 
design wortiiy of her high and trancentlant destinies. These 
remarks apply to our condition, ahd in turning our efforts to 
one branch of wealth and industry, v,e arc not to foi'get 
another which sustains it. In opening vast channels of in- 
ternal commerce we are not to forget that agriculture is (he 
basis of trade — that its encouragement is llie first duty of a 
commonwealth. 

A new era dawns upon the history of our agriculture. The 
past year has been fruitful in tlie inception of great plans (o 
foster its interests. AVc can now number about twenty agri- 
cultural societies, established in (lie various counties, many 
of which have gone into opeiation wilh (!ie most happy and 
promising consequences.* To give these societies (lie full 
effect which is to be derived from such associa(ions, it is re- 
quisite that there should be some rallying point, around whidi 

* There are ngiiciiUnrnl societies in the following counties, ei- 
l1»cr formed or rormirig : — Siitrolk, Westchester, (Jiniigc, Dutchess, 
(Johmibia, Jcfrerson, Oneid.'v, Otsego, Cayuga, A!b:\Jiy, CJenesce, 
Corllandl, (Jhenango, Herkimer, ,S;irafogn, and Qut-ons. In some 
j'ouiities Uierc are several societies. 



3i 

«Uey may operate, and which shall give Ihcsu a iniiformhy o? 
e'haraetei- ami aelion. 1( is not to he ex;)eo(ed that county 
societies, sujjported hy individual eilort and liherality, can 
pi'odnee those wonderi'ul etieels in an agricullural eonimunity 
which have do wed iVosn the ]\alional Board oi GreisI B:itain« 
und which are attended with expense and protracted exertion. 
Their resources are too limited Ibr this purpose, neither do 
they co-oper:tie sutruiently wiih caclj other. 'I'iiesc are, id 
their nature and consliluticn, calculated Tor suhordinate com- 
binations, that will produce excellent results as consiltuent 
parts of a great and well organized system. What then is 
wanting hut a Soard of Aguiculiure, established and pa- 
tronized by the liheiality ol" the New-Yoik state govern- 
raent ? I'his is requisite, as will soon he shown, to give vi- 
gor and consisteney to our jn'esent county societies, and induce 
t!ie other counties to form similar associations. Each coun- 
ty would have a claim on the labors and expenditures of the 
Board, and of course be induced to enjoy this privilege by 
taking the necessary ste[!s. The expenditures of sucli a 
Board, and the resources of the state to support them, next 
fall under our view. 

The Report on Agiicuiture, made at the last session of the 
New-York Legislature, embraced the following outlines — 
the Board was to be established at the seat of tiie state go- 
vernment, consisting of one mentber from each great dis- 
h'iet of the state, the governor, who was to be president cx- 
irljida, a professor of agriculture and chemistry, and a su- 
perinlendant general of agriculture. Yi heievev cainity so- 
cieties were formed, each society was to receive a pioportioa 
of the public fund attached to the Board, the <Iivjdends to 
the counties to he distributed as pretniums and prizes for ♦ x- 
hibitions of excellence in all branches attaclud to agricul- 
7ure. To sustain this great institution, or to use the words 
of the report itself, »' to establish and support this splendid 
fabric, fraught with consequences of incaleiilahle benefit,'* 
iiB aunual appropriation of thirty tliousatid dollars was le- 



cotnuundcd In (lie joifit coitimitd*.' of llit^ [jon&c and sciiah'*: 
■^Vlicliifi- Hie organlza<io!? anil «lisposi(ion o!" pones-, siij^gest- 
v(\ I(v (luM-cport, v:is oxpcdionl or ^^e.^jKM]i^'n^, is nol Jli'.^ 
^i:i>icct of iiivostigalion in {his cxiMitlnation ; noithif do wt- 
« arc so imicJi under what i'ovm. how. or iiv whojii, flic powcr 
is ('.\erfi8tMl. if (lie Irgislalure will j^ive j)Owcr, and siifPer h 
loi)c exorcir^ed \vi«h cirecJ. I'hoie is ((to Dinch sin!{)liti(viii (ni?^^ 
('xerclsc ol'dicir autlion(y (o ereafe '.\ny anxious ibrehodings, 
TIic niagnitiide of (he fond is (he stshjcct of our considcra- 
fion, and (!iat (hirJy thousand dtdlars is none loo niiicli, ap- 
pears strikingJj evident. This jinni the f>!atc can set apart 
out of its sjirpins fiinds. "We ask not for taxation — we only 
ask for an hiiinlde portion of ilie excess of revesnie Ijeyond 
our state expenditures. 

It becomes every state and vwiy government to net rlghl. 
and to act with consislency. New -York has, for years past, 
pursued a noble and Siberal eours? /{fpolieyin relation to public 
improvetnents. Vrhen v,c look a( wlial we itave done, when 
we look at what we ought to do. and a) ourcapaeity to do it, 
hesitation appears degrading; and reproaehfn!. i.ook back 
and sec (he uiagnitude of our appropriations for usefij} pu)-- 
poses beyond the osdinary s]slH're of h'gisustion. We have 
appropriated a scl'.ool i'und for the dld'usion of elenientaiy 
education, whose monies inusted in slock, tlic raliie of hiniJ 
and other p*r<>per!y atiached to l!. amount to S''i07ri,12!). 
We liave appropriated S^iO.OdO for the promotion of medical 
science; we have given QTi.'Z^S r.'i ft>r (lie encnuragcmen!; 
of botany ; for the support of colleges we have paid $750,000, 
and for academies StOO.OOO. Here we ilnd an appropria- 
tion of more tiian seven millions and a half, within the last 
few years, for the encouraj»ejneiit of education and science. 
For niilitary expenses v.c liave appropriated nearly tlirec 
handled thousand dollars, and for the support of criminal 
jurisprudence S<J76,liJ7 47, making between nine aud ten 
jiTiliions in the whole, for these puri>oscs. In this partial view 
of our liberality, we say notiiing of the ap;iropi iations lor more 



S3 

than sixteen hundred miles of turnpike roads, opened by iho 
state government, in conjunction Avilh individuals and corpo- 
rations, and of the tliiily-five os ioriy bridges, which, for the 
most part, Iiave been erected during- the hist ten jcars, in the 
same manner. It is with pride and satisfaction tliat we re 
call to our minds ail these facts, so honorable to the eharae- 
;;^er of the state. 

During the last war with England, New-York did not 
shrink from sustaining the falling crctlit of the nation at the 
darkest perils of the crisis through whicli we gloriously pas- 
sed, and from providing for a debt fulling but little short of 
two millions of dollars at the conclusion of this contest. 
These facts show that we have resources, and resources too, 
in every respect, ample to meet the expendiuircs for our in- 
ternal improvements. 

AVIiat is now asked at the board of the treasury ? Not a 
disbursement to be confined to any particular class of men 
as it regards the benefits to l)e produced ; not a gratuity 
whose enjoyment is to be limited to any one professional pur- 
suit ,• but we ask some decent expression of bounty, some 
moderate encouragement towards that branch of industry 
from which all others receive their life, their nourishment, 
and their vigor. We ask the guardians of our public wel- 
fare, to extend the basis of our wealth and power as a state, 
by a public exercise of that authority with which they are 
clothed by the people. Connnerce, manufactures, and the 
arts, have drawn their vital nutriment from agriculture. 
She has enabled our ships to spread their canvass and plough 
the ocean ; she has fed the ariizan, and given him the ma- 
terials of his occupation ; she lias erected temples for the 
arts and sciences, and opened her treasures to give them pe- 
cuniary aid ; she has covered the borders of our waters with 
splendid cities, towns, and villages ; she has sustained our 
treasury, and sent armies into the field to fight the battles of 

our country, and reap the laurels of victory and renown • 

and through all this, while fifty years have polled away with 

E * 



31 

a prospVniv iiiiknoun in (he Iiisforv of any aiic'ien( or md- 
ileni people hevond llie bosom of our own republic, she has 
never raised her voiee but as a beneiactrkss! She now 
speaks in an hour of i:nclou<lcd prospeiitv. She denian<U 
not that other [»rofessions and other pursuits should contri- 
bute to her benefit ; but she asks their permission to retain a 
ftunible portion of her own numiiieent contributions to tit*, 
resources of o»ir treasury, for her own improvement, that site 
mavdo siill more for oll.ers. It is time (hat the cultivators 
of the soil should be beard. AVbiie liaw and Physic, while 
Commerce atid jManufactures have filled so large a space in 
the public eye, we have too far fojgotten the Farmers in our 
legislative bounty, the biave ami hardy yeomanry, who in 
peace and in war, in prosperity and in misfortune, have borne 
the state upon their shoulders, and opened their breasts to 
her defence and their purses fo her credit. Is af^riculture 
of less conserjuencc than othei- subj«'cts of legislation ? From 
this branch of industry shall the Kcw-York Jegislature turn 
w'nh A cold heart, a penurious spirit, and a contemptuous eye ? 
iShall (he agricultural portion of our great community be 
turned away from (he halls of public delibera(ion with scorn 
:uid derision ? AVe choose legisla(ors and rulers to protect and 
^vatch over our pjiblic inteiests — and there is too much wis- 
dom, too much patriotisnu and too much liberality in the exe- 
cutive and in (Ise legislature, to treat the encouragement of 
agriculture in any other manner (ban i(s vast importance de- 
serves. Look at our s(a(e, w hose commeice throws an annn= 
ai tribute from (en to twelve millions of dollais into our na- 
tional (reasury : a state whose revenue is half a million an- 
nually : a state which has paid more than ten njillions of dol- 
lars for e\(ia expenses within (be last lew years; a state 
Joo, whose commercial emporium can even raise from two to 
ihrce hundred thousand dollars yearly ibr internal improve, 
ment — look at these facts, consider (hat cigh(ecn years have 
passed away witbout a direct tax by the state government, 
and t-heB look at this call for the encouragement of agricuf- 



tui'C'—tliis (hilly thousand dollars, this sum (hat is even less 
tlian the sixteenth part ofoui* income! Mas the state of 
Aew-York poor and exhausl:.d, this demand for a (i-iilirif^ pa- 
tronage would not be asked ; but we have had the assuranee 
ef Governor Clinton,* that after all the expenses of ge- 
"vernment should he defrayed on the most liberal seale, and 
our taxes reduced one half, ^'''*' there would then remain, 
S300,000 10 be appropriated to purposes of publie improve- 
ment. What prefers a stronger claim to patronage than 
Agriculture ? Let an enlightened and reileeling legislature 
answer ! 

But to conclude on (his point, where argument is not re- 
quisite — we merely ask, whether we solicit an annual appro- 
pi'iation, as a perpetual ilrain upon our tieasu^'v, wiiliout a re- 
turning equivalent ? Every dollar judiciously expended by 
an Agricultural Board would \ield an abundant return in the 
immediate rise of our real estate. Our products would in- 
crease, their nature and qualities be vasdy changed, our la- 
bor become far more productive, our live stock be improved 
beyond calculation, and a spirit of emulation and enterprize 
-awakened throughout our state, whose eiiorts aiid example 
Avould be felt to the limits of the American Union, whose 
fruits would reach, through the medium of our wide-spread 
cjmmerce, (he boundaries of (he globe. 

Admitting that a Board of Agriculture is established in 
this state ; that the Legislature, with a becoming spirit and 
niagnanimitj' digest a plan and organize a socieJy, the princi- 
ples of whose constitution are fraught with wisdom and dis- 
cretion ; that selfishness and personal ambition are crushed 
with scorn and iudignation, parJy animosity lost in a glow of 
enthusiasm and unanimity to serve (he people, and a stand 
taken to proniotc the agricultural interests of (he state of 
New-York, that deserves the most unqualified praise an<i 
respect throughout the American communi(y — under these 

* See his Inaugural Address, aud also his last Speech, to the 
Legislature. 



36 

«ircums^tances, let us glance at the probable duiics oi sueli a 
board and the eflects which must be produced by their dis- 
charge. 

A complete knowledge of the Agi lenKural resources ol' 
the state v/oiild naturally follow. The temperature and va- 
riati6ns of our climate, with its etfeets on the pioduetii*^^ of 
the earth, the various characteristics of our soil, an«i the 
products bcstachipted to itsdilierent kinds, \\ould ocj-upy an 
•early notice. But little attention has yet been paid, by any 
systematic efforts, to the diflcrent departments of our natural 
history. It is time that our niineralogical kingdom was ex~ 
plored and its treasures opened (o the world ,- it is time that 
our geology was examined wit!i minute attention and ample 
maps made of new and old discoveries ; arsd our vegetable 
and animal kingdoms present a wide thej^tie for euriosily ajid 
investigation. These branches of nalural hisJory will here- 
after Pxliibit a more iutiuiale aI!iaiK*e willi agricuiiure than 
^ve may now imagine, ll would be politic for the board to 
open an extensive eabinet for the deposit and preservation oi' 
the specimens and examples of mineralogy, gculogy and bota- 
ny, which time and indus(ry sliould bring together. Such 
a eabinet* would not only afford an extensive and salisfacto- 
i*y knowledge of the natural history of our stale, but would 
in all probahilily, greatly advance the natural science of the 
nation, by becoming the reposilory of similar specimens from 
every section of the Unik'd States, in exchange fui- many 
which the board could distribute. Under the directions of 
this institution, we could not oidy ascer(ain the qualih'es of 
our soil, but the amount of our annual productions, t?ie extent 
of our home consumption, the yearly increase of ourpopula- 
lion, and the impiovemcnts (d' domestic industry in genera! 
could easily be combined in tlie scope of their efforts. Gov- 
ernor Clinton in his late speech has very judiciously suggested 
that ihisBoaid sliouU! becnipoNvered to make a "sfiitistieal 

* Sec Dr. Mi*'-i.il's letter, whicli Ioilo^^?:. 



37 

survey of Ihe state and extend theii' aitention to the various 
subjects herenotiecd. 

As the application of science to the pursuits of agrli'ulture 
has engrossed the altenlion and patronage of the most distin- 
guished modern economists, and the mo?t distinguished ag- 
ricultural nations in Em-ope, the Board of Agriculture in 
tiiis state will perceive the importance of creating aprofcssor- 
sliip of agj'icuiture, and the necessity of having regular and 
extensive courses of Icctiires on agricultural chemistry. 
Speaking of agricultural professorship, 3!r. Sinclair observes 
— '♦ It iii n')i many yeai-s ago, since, at t'ne expense of a pri- 
vate individual, (the late Sir William Pultcny) a proiVissor- 
s •;;;!• V as esUJilished at Edinburgh, for reading lectures on 
the art of ajr'ici'.lture. The utility of such an in&titution is 
so evident tfiai i ought i<» be cxk'uded to all the otSiep imi- 
versities. Tiie •..(lerHion o? young men, by such establish- 
menis, would be diiected early to this nsost ust>fui of all t!je 
branches of knowledge, if they inherit landed property, 
ngriculturc is the topic to whicli their views should be par- 
ticularly directed ; and as tlw're is scarcely any profession, 
which will preclude them fi-otn spending some pat t of their 
time in the country, if after having accumulated a forti:ne, 
they become propiietors oTIund, their having i*arly acquired 
such knowledge, would be a source of much gratifitation 
and advantage," But such a course of lectures would not 
be confined to the rising generation ; their benefits would 
immediately reach the farming interests and cultivators of 
the soil, who now sow and reap the harvest. The light dis- 
seminated would be extended to all parts of the^^state through 
appropriate clsannels. Connected with such lectures, we 
ndght ex[)ect the adoption of an ample system of seientifie 
experiments, toasccrtaio the specific qualities and composi- 
tion of our various soils and subsoils, the nattre and ri< h- 
ness of our mineials, the fructifying qualities of our natural 
manures and the artificial composts which might be called 
to our aid (o etirieh raid fertilize the <'ai (h. 



The uuiil^ of cxperimculal farms iias betu well (tsted isi 
Germany and in otiitr ijuartcis oTKurojie. It cannot l»e ex- 
pected that the eullivatoiis ofotir soil can afTord to set apart 
a certain portion oi' their hinds lor {)nrpo5es of expcrinienr, 
at the hazard oi'loosing the awiount of (he j^rouiid rent, liicir 
labour, (heir time, and the money expended in (he aCempt ; 
and yet experinu.'nt has proved, and ever \vi!i prove, (he soul 
of useful science. Slmuld the Jloaid of Agricullure have 
Somali experimental farms, or certain pieces of land a|)propri- 
Mted (o the i^rowing oftliisorthat panienlar kiiid ofpioduce, 
maiking the distinctions between diilVjent kinds of soil, and 
tlie manner auil practice of cultivation best adapted (o gen- 
eral uli!i(y, leave these farms ojsen (o public obser\a(ion, 
have the; course and various operations of the experiments, 
published lo the community at large — introduce on these 
farms seeds, phints, fruits, and all kinds of vaiuablc vegeta- 
bles from {'oreign cousilries likely (<» llouiish and prove ol' 
\aluc and import ance—no( a so^Iitaiy di>ub( can exist of our 
realizing tjjemosi sctlid ami vital advandtges from this course 
(d" policy. It has been by such expedients that other nalions 
3r.ive done so much for great subsisAencc from small and 
jimiled means. 

The in(rod«iclion of usefi.d agricultural productions from 
iorei'-n climates, conducive to o:ir comfort and wealih, >vill 
■cJiiim (he attention of (his lioard. Various species of grain 
eosdd. donijtless, be found that would prove congenial to our 
soil^yieitl u more abundant haivest from the same quantiiy 
of larid, and still possess an incrciised iiUiinsic value.* Our 
soiS will be lound (o yield urauy valuable produclions now 
strangers in our gianaries and our tables, v.heji the proper 
jest i'i applied. It is not for individuals to do (liis. Expe- 
rience, labor, expense, per*cvereiu;c and mueh disappoint- 

* liurdou S. IMumford, esq. of this city, about two years since, 
a-etdcnlly met with a small quantity ola peculiar kind of whe.-ii 
Oil board a vessel iVom the Mcditenaiieau, v.hicb Iihs proved l'» bt 

an iuvHli-r-blc ;'.cei;i;&iti«j: t'l 'jie f^'intry. 



39 

twciil must a((en(l llic efforts h) increase tliese blessings. In 
the arllelc of fiuit in particnlar, onr lands would prove siis- 
ccpfiblc of great change and improvement. 

Under the auspices of this imititution, we might consistent- 
Ij expect great improvements in the construction of all im- 
portant injplements of husbandry. Inventions in labor-saving 
machinery have been much attended to within the few last 
years ; l)Mt the study of aejitc and enterprising men has been 
more particularly turned to labor-saving machines in onr 
manufactories. Tiie same economy could, to no inconsider- 
able extent, be applied to the cultivation of the earth and the 
farmer partially relieved, in many instances, from that te- 
dious and formidable application of physical force and exer- 
tion which now attends his occupation. But it requires a 
liberal and permanent patronage to great mechanical pro- 
jectors under the attention of some enlightened public power, 
to effect this end. 

Another duly which would naturally fall to the provision 
of a Board of Agriculture, would be the judicious <listribu- 
fion of premiums and rewards to individuals and the county 
societies, as suitable acknowledgment* of merit and ex- 
cellence. The most abundant crops from a given portion of 
soil, produced at a speeilied expense, as well as extraordina- 
ry suece»»s in the raising of useful domestic animals, would 
be entitled to something more than verbal indications of ap- 
probatiou. AVhatever should be found of great and slable 
utility in the agricultural department would deserve the pe- 
«uniary attention of the board, so far as to render it an object 
of pride and competition.* 

In other respects, besides the excitement of our pride and 
emulation with respect to the raisiing of live stock, we may 
expect improvements from the Boaid with regard to the most 
judicious method of managing domestic animals in the 
apportionment of their food, the most proper and whol- 

"♦ See Judge Ilei'tcU's leitei' which will follow on Ihrs subjecfl, 



40 

some foot! to be distributed, the diseases incident (o Ihein, 
Ihcir nature and remedj, and the inipiovcnienl of onr pre- 
sent species, by the introduction of animals from foreign 
countries. The introduction of (he merino sheep, and ihc 
importation of some peculiar breeds of cattle, especially into 
the state of Massachusetts, affords a convincing lesson on this 
head. Veterinary kno\vled.q;e is becoming a branch of eco- 
nomy of the first appreciation in Great Britain, and deserves 
mnch more consideration than it receives, in our own country. 
AVhile great attention has been paid to eaJtle and sheep, the 
noble horse has been too often giossly neglected. Should 
(he Board of Agriculture have lectures occasionally deliver- 
ed and published on this branch of knowledge, the eflect 
would be highly conducive to our interest. It has been as- 
serted that every pound sterling so expended in England has 
produced a thousand pounds profit. 

The reconimeudalion of all such wholsome and salutary 
laws and regulations as would favorably affect the interests 
of agriculture, may naturally be expected to fall within the 
sphere of duty appertaining (o the operations of the society. 
Possessing every requisite information, (he Board would con- 
stitute a source of inielligence to which (he legislature could 
appeal with confidence and success. The depressed reputa- 
tion of our flour in foreign markets, the great staple article 
of our soil, pi'oves the palpable necessity of some guardian 
eye to watch over our agricultural eoncerus. It does not 
belong to a chamber of commerce, but to a board of agri- 
culture to correct the evil ; it must be remedied at the 

source. 

Roads, canals, bridges, harbors and depots, are of prima- 
ry consequence to the interests of an agricultural community. 
The great improvements to iulernal trade \>hieh are now 
opening by the state government, v>ill form tlic bulwark of 
an internal intercourse not cfjuuiled in the boundaries of any 
nation ; but there must be many minor water channels, 

many aew roads and other inlcruul conveniences, that musr 



41 

be left to some CjH(;ient organ of public power, to point oat 
and recomjieiul to future patronaga. What power couKl 
more properly do it than the liaard of Aj^rieulture ? 

In tlte first report of the agricultural hoard, we might ex- 
pect a full expositiosi of aii those pernicious errors and cus- 
toms, that are prt^judiciul to the most favoralxle and pro- 
ductive cultivation of our soil. Tiie rctmoval of obstacle?? 
would of itself prove a vast facility to our rapid advancement 
la rural economy. Conimunities too often progress to improve- 
ment under a load of error, sanctioned hy the customs of suc- 
ceeding years and generalions, without being sensible of the 
letters that shackle their energies. This remark, in a pecu- 
liar manner, comes home to the arts of husbandry. As 
*he board of agriculture would have the means of command- 
ing a view of liie witoie ground at a single glance, much 
might be expected from their clear and comprehensive per- 
ception. 

An agricultural library would be an object worthy of atten- 
tion, consisting of a collection of the most celebrated works on 
ihe subject before us, which could be found in this country and 
in Eus'opcembracing notonly leading productions, but also re- 
ports, tracts, essays, periodical works, and philosophical dis- 
tjuisitions. A collection of such works, as they appear in 
the different cpmrters of our own country, at the present aus- 
picious era, would embody a mass of information highly use- 
ful to the state. 

1'he Board of Agriculture would not fail of giving a com- 
bined effect to the exertions of our present agricultural socie- 
ties in the dilFerent counties, and those which will, no doubt, 
soon be formed. When our forty-nine counties shall have 
formed their full number of associations, and unite their ef- 
forts under the protecting aid and patronage of this great le- 
gislative organ, clothed with ample powers to raise up and 
direct the slumbering energies of the state, may we not con- 
fidently look for consequences whose prospective contempla- 
tion is sufficient to sjladden our vision and give uew life and 

F 



42 

aniiisalioii (o our excilions ? Let not t!ie linsxilttlin;^ sup- 
pose lor a iiiODUMif, that tlic lioaid of Agiieulluio would pie- 
tend to dictate to the fonntj associations, or intcilVre vith 
ilicir lueasiiirs and piocccdiugs. The county societies >vill 
proceed in tiieir own course, and their iniprovenjents be 
blended with the intprovenients of the Hoard. IVeither is 
the liuaid to interfere with the farming interest. It will 
l)lace light an<l knowledge under the eves, and in the pathway 
of the eulti\ator to his fields, liis gardens, and his orchards; 
if he rejects this light, and ekavcs to habits prejudicial to 
the weltUie of himself and his children, he can do so, witjiout 
incurring cjiminal prosecution or coniravening j)enal sta- 
tutes. 

'i'herc are wmhy higiily respectable men, ivLo imr.gine that 
the county societies c^a do all tliat is necessary to be done 
far tallage. ^\ill lliey indeed go to the expense and labor of 
discharging the great duties which we have enumerated? 
Can ihey aftard to encourage the science of agriculture, and 
trace out the eor.ne.\i'jn between the laws of nature and tho 
economy of national and iudividiial existence ? AViU thej 
correT.pond witii foreign nations, institute philosophical ex- 
periments, public lectures, extensive surveys, seientilio re- 
searciics and investigations, import domestic animals, and 
execute all the duties incumbent on a public boat d ? lieasou 
intuitively rejects the supposition. 

And, lastly, let us not forget the collection and diffusion 
of knowledge which must follow the establishtnent of this 
great state institution, whose operations, will, in no small de- 
gree, partake of a national cast. The ad\ancement of all 
buman knowledge is progressive, more especially where it 
materially depends on a mass of corroborating facts and the 
long repetition of experiment. Ale have before adverted to 
the depressed condition of agriculture in this state and in the 
United StatcB. A wide and ftrtiie tield is open and unex- 
j)lored, to any state, to any combination of men, or any dele- 
gation of public auihority that stands forth and leads the 



43 

>vay ; it would be tlic i]uiy of our instllulion (o puMisli to the 
\\(nU\ the I'csnlCs oT all out' impiovonKMils. In (he first 
])lace, the iigSit imparted J>v Jlicir luboufs uould spread over 
oiii' own sSate, over tlie union at large, and even go beyond 
tbe limits of oni' nation ; on tlie other hand, the organ of the. 
Board would open a eorsespondence uitb every agricuHural 
Association in otir state, with exevy one in the United States 
— with every distijignislieil man — and every literary and sei- 
enlific seminary or society, posser^sing relative infoiination. 
'^J'he advantages of sueh an intercourse would be reeiproeal. 
By this means, the agricultural resources of the nation Mould, 
in a great measure, be developed ; an<l we should go I'unlicr 
than this: a correspondence of moment and interest would 
be opened with all quarters of the woild. Throughout Eu- 
rojHN learned universities, philosoj.hleal associations, agricul- 
tural Sii'ilitulions, learned men, economists, philosophers ami 
states!>}en, would pour a Hood of Knowledge into the new 
world* and the slate of New-York form the groat me- 
dium of its dilHtsion. It wouh! be an honor, left to our own 
state, to reciprocate these favours. Our contiguity to llic 
ocean — our commerce to the four quarters of the globe would 
enable us to do it witli ease and celerity. This woi:M rentier 
the reports of our board luminous and intereslirg to the ge- 
neral welfare of mankind and tributary to the improvements 
of the era in which we exist. Our country is daily exciting 
more interest among the learned of ICuiope, and in many 
places in South America, science would send forth her liimi- 
naiies and give us light, w as there a kindred star with whoso 
radiance their beams could mingle and expand* 

The effects of an agiiculiural Board scarcely need to b« 
numbered here, "^rbey would be found in the general me- 
lioration of our soil, the increased value of our real estate, 
and the consequent increase of wealth, population, and pow- 



* See Dr. Milchill's letter which will follow; and, also, the 
lavt No. of the Edinbuicli Rexicw, 



(V. 'I'lic ejjltivaiion of (he vnrili \vo?iliI l)e iTtidorcd moi« 
fashionable — ihe learned professions less ero^v<led, and » fa- 
vorable bias given <o the minds antl inclinations of jhe rising 
generation. It wouhl increase our exports— lessen our im- 
ports — strengthen our inclrpendence, snd enlarr^e the nnniber 
of our domestic comforts. It would bring out the resources 
of the state — i;ive us a knowled,K;e of the various Ijianches of 
our natural historv — '.idvance tlic arts and sciences — brinp; 
neglected talents into notice from asnong the cultivators of 
the soil, and give a more salutary effect and iniiuence to the 
county associations. 'J'he race oS'our donseslic animals v otiid 
be improved, and ne\Y and valuable prodiU'liuRs introduced 
among" us. Its estabiishnicnt would present a grand and 
leading pattern to the ofher slates of the union, and like the 
j^reat western canal, be admired and followed. And, lastly, 
it Avould stand a j)roud column, to sustain the noble jxtliiical 
fabric, Ifcnealii v.ijose dome miUsons and tens of FiilHloHs aio 
liercafter to grow up, ilourisb, ar.d be hisppj. 

Under all consideration!-:-— imder the commanding dictalci; 
Avhieh impel to action nird liberali/v, cfin the rj'jjresentativr- 
orgi'.n of the people, est! rusted wish the cxerci-e of their 
lights and ihe control of their resources for pe.rpnses of ge- 
neral utility, refrain from cxtesuling a protecliug jiatnuiagc 
to our agricuUural prosperity ? The isjcmbers of our legis- 
latuie are not calletl upon to draw a line of pojiiseal distinc- 
tion which, shall cast the stale into the arms of political war- 
■f;u-e ; ijtey are not called upon to iJecide on a mesisure In 
^vhieh the sensations of [.ar(y or st ctjonsil i'viuh can Isavc 
any participation; but they are cuMed upon by the loud so- 
licitations oi' pul'Iic interest and general good, to found a 
great and !joi)Ie institution whose nie.nirohl ciiects will not on- 
ly gladden ar.d enrich the slate and cve?i the nation in their 
own time, but under the guidimce ol' wisdoju -.iud discretion, 
remain an evidence of hgislatixe greatness, when the epoch 
in which they live, shall ha>e long been blemkd with tijc 
ages which have lolkd on bcftic i:s. A iioaid of Agricr>]- 



45 

UwQ, esluWisliCtl on a propoi- basils, sJasiils liij;;]! and inacceii- 
sible to any [.MSsion but a gcnulnt' aiul iiuicpeiiilent iove of 
country. 

It bas been left for (he s(a!e of NcAv-Yoik to aioijse the 
nation to t!ie jnonioiioii of iiiJei nal inir.rovenients. It bas 
been left foi' the state of Aew-Yoik lo bur} patty distinc- 
tions, in the eotniuetjceiuent and prosectitiou of (be greatest 
vork of tbe age— a work, whit-li dispiiiys more grandeur of 
<'.oni;eption and tdore greatness in exeeiitioii, than all tbe pub- 
lie iinprove'sietits of tlie difteient nations of Europe for tbe 
last bundred years. And let it be left for ibo staie of New- 
York to establisb a BOAKD OF AliHICULTURE, as tbe 
first institution of tbe kind in oar couiUry, and tbus picsent 
anotber great and illustrious example \^ortby liie indlaiion 
«f t!»c Ameriean states. 

(TiiK following letters were addressed to tbe Corrcspondiniij 
Seereiary of (be Assoeialion far Internal Lnjsrovenients, 
a few days siiiee, and are added bere as a valuable ae<jui- 
silion. Many useful sui;ges(ions will be found in tbcsc 
letters, not particularly eufoicod or advanced in the fore- 
Ijoing pages.] 

HON. SAMUEL L. 3iITC!IILI/S LEITEIL 

JV\' re- Fo } -k, Jan . 10, 1819. 
To Cjiaut.es n. Haines, Eso. 

Dear Sir — Youi- note of tbi* 0(b iiislant relates to a sub-- 
jcct of great insnortanc^e to tbe internal improvement of our 
<'onn(ry, the establisluncnt of a board of agi-ivuiluie, or, as 
it migbt be more properly termed, a board of rural economy. 

The governor in bis two addresses to tbe legislature bas 
employed a-gumenls and urged considerations wbicb aru 
<-onclusive and unanswerable its favor of (br rneasure. In tb« 



eulaigc;! and paltioli", \'tc\\ v.lticli lie lias taken urtlie subject, 
lie lias shown lliat llie time is nmv arrived for loumlinj^ an 
insfitiition \v!if»se elleet, if sueccssrul, will he lo enhance thcl 
\alue of lanjl,an<l (o enerease (he glorj oTthe state. 

The iiKM]i(a(e<l estabiishtnenl is both (lie indication and 
Oic ofTspj'ini; oT advuncfcl society. 'I'herc is b«l linle call or 
iisc for i(, until man sliall have progressed far in eivilization. 
I have no donbt that our social condition is mature for (be. 
experiment. It is an important branch of the sovereignty. 

Yet, if 1 was governed by individual or selfish considera- 
tions, I scarcely ought (o wish success to the undertakiug;. 
I should fear tliat my own importance would be lessened and 
piy province invaded. I'he board might interfere with my 
rumtiouH and with those of my friends and associates, and 
deprive us of a part of the consideration we have gained, and 
continue to enjoy. I v\ ill specify my meaning by a few ex- 
amples. The sovereign power ought (o provide for (he se- 
curity of trade ; yet shi[)s destined from foreign places (o 
New-York, had often been run ashore near the IJght TIouso 
at Sandy Hook, when lliere was no distress of weather, and 
undi'i- mysterious and inexplicable circumstances. Under- 
writers were obliged lo pay for {roperty lost and damaged 
though this could not compensate for the suiferings by pain 
and death. It was suppo'jcd there misst be .in erroi' in the 
r^stiuiated height of the ailjaceni Ncversink Hills. Though 
the pert had been frequented !)y navigators I'or two centuries 
and n'.ore,(hrii altitude u'jovl' t!ieoec;«nielevcl,had neverbeen 
ascertainesl. It was cofijectured to be al)out six hundred feet. 
IJeing IhcM a director of an insurance com|)any, 1 <Ie(erminecl 
logo myself and find their altitude. A company of learned 
and inleUigi'nl fsieuds hoiiered ?nc with iheir assistance. We 
found the summit of these famous piles to be considerably 
less than fnree hundred feet. The reason immediately ap- 
peared why njaiiiiess, deceived in the altitude, bad been de- 
reived in their supposed distance ; and in full confidence 
thai ti'.ey were eafe ;n the o{r!ng,'r'«r;vd <f> (heir astonishment. 



47 

thrir vessels (hunipiiii^ on tlj« bo((oai. Since llic piiMiealioii 
of (liisdispoverv, the line ordislitietion and llic decoy to ship- 
wreek, arc removed. Ttiis beneficial work ought (o hiivc 
been perfoi'med Uy :i hoai'dol'inleinal impiovemenf, in whose 
ai-chivcs the experiujenls and calculations siioiild have been 
deposited. 

The sovereign's knovvled.^e ought to extend to all the ve- 
getable productions ol'ihe soil. M helhee they are louly as 
mosses oi" exaUed as pines, it is his business to know theui. 
or to knoiv where to find thewj. lie siioiild direct tliem to 
be preserved in herbariums, legislered in catalogues, and 
described in books. Whatever the Almighty has planted in 
Iiis dominions, is a worthy object of his regard, liy the in- 
dustry and skill of the Lyceum, the plants growing within 
iii'ry miles of Xew-York ei«y, have bi'en carefully gathered 
and bolanically examined. A seienlilic list of them is al- 
most ready for the reading world. This honorable labof 
ought to have been executed by the boai-d in whose museum 
the specimens and their specific marks should be kept foi" 
the information of all curious enquirers. JJut it will be 
theirs to continue and complete the undertaking. 

The mind of the sovereign ought to contain intelligence of 
the constitution and quality «»f the soil in his dominions. 
From the rock that has resisted from the beginning the as- 
saults of time, down to the dust that is blown about by the 
blast, every thing has its impcutance ; all are parts of the 
estate granted to him by his Creator: and if that care is 
bestowed upon property which its in»[»ortanee demands from 
a wise and dignified governmenr, nteasures will be adopted 
for preparing liere a set of tables like tho^e in Mexico, where 
all minerals arc systensaticaUy arranged with the places in 
which they arc found. My own pxertions, aided by the 
kind and generous spirit of my fellow -citizens, has enabled 
mc to collect a valuable cabinet of mineralogy and geology, 
which is rapidly increasing. The day is approaching when 
the geognoslic characlei' of an estate will be deemed a mat- 



48 

tci' orconscqueticc io (lie pui'diasor, as well as llic gcome- 
Jiieal bojintlaries and llie iiUegiily ofdde. He will not be 
satisfied uuli! he knows on which of Ihe great j^eological 
fuinrations of (he globe his phintation is situaled, and wlic- 
<hei' slate, granite, sand-roek, limestone, clay, iron ore. gyp- 
sum, iJiarle, coal, hlack nioiild, sand, or any other mineral 
arlielcs, predominate in his lields. 

Here would be great scope for the proposed board, it* the 
business had no! already been in a great degree aeeomplish- 
ed. Titey may, nevertheless, begin asjew, and eollect a sam- 
ple of every importaiU nsineral and fossil from mountain, 
plain, and mine, and plaee it in tlieir jnuscum. This will be 
a eommeneement at the riglst end. l^his \\ill be working to 
the purpose. The political economist, the practical farmer, 
and the inf|uiii;ive traveller nray alike see in a few hours 
every rare and valuable production of the slate, whether 
«\jrthy, metairse, saline, inHanunable, or organic, and of tlic 
adjacent regions. The sovereign ought to possess a gooti 
idea of the configuration of bis dominions. I, therefore, 
cannot ouiil the nuistion of another subject of internal im- 
provement, that lies just llnishcd before me. It is a profile 
of (lie eountty, fi-oin (he margin of the ocean, at Long 
Brancli in New-Jersev. on a line Piearly north, exhibiting; (he 
bills of ^lonmouth county and Staten island, the Promonto 
ry of iloboken, (he Paliisado rooks, alotig (he right bank of 
the Ilui'son, (Ise Highland drain, and (he country extending 
Jowards (he lyase of the (^afskill mountains, with their re- 
spective heights and distances, and their geological constitu- 
lion and charac(er. This beautiful and ins(rue(ivc piece uit 
physical geograpiiy is (he result of individual eftorts, long, 
and at length successfully applied. The performance lies ii» 
my port folio, as a document (o illustrate my public course 
of natural history in (be university; Lut it is a model wor- 
thy of the imitation and inspection of scientific men. Such 
surveys and delineations of select sections of (Ise country 
>vo!il;! be distiugr.islicd botli by ntiliiy and splendor. I shaO 



49 

^'juiinei'ate no more oJ' (lie domestic ffuictions of siicli a hoard. 
Tlieif number would (ill ;in cv»istle of gveatei* Icni^tii t!iu:i I 
isave an inelirtatiou lo write. I must, however, notice (he 
rehilJon of sueli a society to foreign phiccs and persons, and 
(he honoruhie and exeeUent tendency of agricultural com- 
munications with foreign parts. The illustrations are de- 
rived from my personal condition in life, and the occurrences 
are of a recent date. Ceruiin ingenious and enterprising- 
friends pitclied upon me as the orguu of communication with 
fhe mii^hty Czar of the north. TIk' President of the United 
States and the Russian Minister sanctioned my request to 
send a plough to Alexander, I)y the public sliip whicli carried 
our minister pienipolentiary to St. PeJersburgh. Two of 
Wood's Freeborn utensils were forwarded, by the way of 
Boston, in the frigate Guerriere — one for the emperor's ca- 
binet, and one for his field. The former, I believe, surpas- 
sed in symmetry and elegance every thing heretofore con- 
structed in (he form of a plough. Judge of it when you are 
informed, that the ?uould board of tliis imperial offering was 
polished like a mirror. This act would have dignified a 
board of agriculture. 

From the Botanical Garden of Antwerp, in the kingdom 
of the NetJierlands, have arrived seeds of the most useful 
plants for the ki(ehen garden, in extensive vaiiety and excel- 
lent preservation. Distribution has been made of parcels of 
this precious consignment to several of my agricultural 
friends. Many articles remain in my possession for future 
distri)jutit)n. A board ought to liuve possessed such a box of 
articles. They migljt, thereby, have been sent to all parts of 
the commonwealth. But as it is, the particular friends and 
visitants of an individual, share the seeds thus cast upon our 
lands. 

A few weeks ago, the messenger Avho brought my dispatch- 
es from Peru, delivered in addition to the fleeces of the Amer- 
ican camels, and the silver ores of Peseo, a collection of 
£;arden seed^. among whiolt were varieties of the bean dV 

rt 



50 

live tVoni Lima. Thcic beint; no boaiil of agricuUiire, 1 sent 
(hem to (he assoeiadon in Queens counly i'oi' cuhuic The 
board of GeorgopJiilists in Tuscany, courts a eonununicatioti 
of sentiments, and a reeiinocity of inteieourde, u[)on (liecul- 
livalion of the earth and upon husbandry geneeaily. it is a 
proud event, that Floirnee, (he emjMMiuni of taste and the 
mistress of the arts, extends tlie Ijand of invitation and fel- 
lowship to ]\e\v-York. There ouj^lit to be a soeiety to reply 
to- such a eoniniunieation as I received ; but in the absence of 
such a public bodv, i perform the service, and enjoy the 
pleasure alone. 

It deserves to Uq known (o our state and nation, that the 
actual governmtat of France is incessantly on the watch to 
procure specimens of tlu' natural productions of North Ame- 
rica, to furnish air.l enricii tiic lloya! Mu;of nms of Paris. The 
enterprising; and diligent minister, in concert with (he Aca- 
demy of Sciences, and in furtherance of the views of his go- 
vernment, is, by his agents, perpetually employed in explor- 
ing our country, and in transmitting across the ocean the ar- 
ticles he procures ; if I am not much mistaken, (he metro- 
poiis of France will soon possess a better collection of Frcdish 
productions, tfian any place in (he United States. ^Vhy can 
there !^ot be a sinular house of science at home ? A just re- 
gard for ourselves, would certainly lead us to acquire a bet- 
ter knowledge of the country we inh.:bit than is possessed by 
any other jiecjde. My communications with men of the 
liighest intelligence, have long since satisfied me of the zeal 
with whieii quadrupeds, birds, organic remains, and every 
thing is procured and exported. 

After these disclosures, a very few out of a great many, 
I frankly confess to you, after all, that I am willing to trans- 
ler my share in the transactions to u public institution, as 
goon as the. Board whicii you and liis excellency contemplate, 
sballbe constituted. At Albany, the seat and centre of use- 
ful works and important operations, a jyeat thoroughfare 
from east, west, north, and south, might be (he ofllcc for the 
receint and distribution of all manner of useful intelligence, 



51 

cOnrcniing land and its improvement, (:onceruinj5 labor and 
iJs reward, concerning produce and its consumption, concern- 
ing- (he introdiicCion oi'new plants arid animals, of new modes 
ot* culture and empl<sy, and ilnally tonccsninj; a heneruial in- 
tercourse with all aj^i'icultnial societies within the stale, and 
sistiilar institutions beyond its limits. 

The dlfHeulties which present themselves Ut ine, in or£;a- 
r.izlag an institution surpassing for such a people as \ye are, 
every thing done by Octavius the august, Leo the Tenth, 
Louis the Fourteenth, aiis;^- IVom the I'ollo^^ lug sources : 

i. The danger of making it a political machine, to provide 
places for that class of expectanfs who demand rewards for 
allegj^d sacrifices and services. Should tliis be the case, it is 
easy to foresee, that the great objects will be frustrated. 

2. The danger of rendering it abortive fioin frequent 
changes of men who administer its affairs. The love of 
change and rotation, which has ruined the discipline of our 
state prison, and the charaeier of our Hour, -s^ill if indulged, 
be equally pernicious to a IJoard of Agriculture. Qualilied 
and capable members should not be ca[)rieionsly removed. 
Curators and secre(aries,ought invariably to hold their oiSces 
during good behaviour. 

3. The danger of impairing its usefulness, through envy 
and jealousy am«»ng its members. This however will not 
|iro!)ably be greater than in other cases where several per- 
sons are associated to do public business. Should feelings 
of such kind exist, a sense of duty, and even of interest, may 
overcome them. 

4. The danger of its failing through the apprehension of 
great funds to endow the sjcieiy in the first instance, and ot* 
large appropriations to support it afterward. My own opin- 
ion is, thnt it will be endowed at once ; with (he Governor of 
the state for a visiter, (o examine how far the (rust is ob- 
served or violated. 

5. The danger of miscarriage, from tbc indifierenee or 
kzi!7ess of the members. There will be so much csiipioy- 



jnent fora longlime to toine, llial Jhcic cau be no piaicme 
for lanj^uor or inaclioii. I should suj>posc tiie dail^' airivai 
of letters, messengers, natural speeiuiens, ijjodels of tools 
and utensils, books, plans, drawint^s, and (he nuniberiess 
other matters vvhieh will be brought to such a place, 'jvould 
give them abundant emploj* nnnt. The very aiibv>eriui; of 
^jueries, the analyzing oT aitieles, the explunation of tnodels^ 
ihe attendance upon citizens who call to see the museum, and 
the preparation o!" abstraets for genera! inlormation, are se- 
rious emplovmenis, and require ;;reat iEHlustty. 'ihe branci* 
\ii the eiiv of Isew-York, will pcrfoi'm a huge pro];orlion of 
tliC labor, at least of that part wliicli depends upon nuvi(i;a}ioii 
coasi-wise, and to foreign eoimtries. 

6. 'J'he danger arising from an opp»)sition to tlse plai^, hy 
ihe I'armeis themselves, it seen»s hiiherlo to have been s«s~ 
\tected tlial the establishment of a Board of Agrieulture vas 
an .".dmission that iarniers did not understand (heir ov. n af- 
iairs, and were not (o be pern;i(led to manage theiss in their 
own wtij. 'I'jis is tolailv a mistaken iilea, Tliese is no in- 
Jenfion to control Iarniers in (lie dinetion of theii* eonevrniJv 
But it is medi(ated to aiford (hem every spetirs of ijuorma- 
(ion w hieh \\h' Bor.nl can collect, rchuive to new and iiiipsov ■ 
«'d modes ol' tillage, new varieiits of grain, new utensils ant! 
implements, witii the ir.osi complete intelligence which cais 
be procured about laud, labo!*, prttdute, statislics, bo:«iJV« 
mineralogy, soils, manuics, and the assoeiafed sulfjecls- lu 
short, the Board is expected to perfoiui services highly im- 
portarst to the public iulciest and honor, which aie not pro- 
\idcd for by colii'ges or schools ol'urjy kind, or in any oiisci' 
way. And I think (heir magnitude, rsunJu'r, and nahue 
eminenlly won by of inve:?)iga'.iou I»y a soiteiy i'ny internal 
inijii-ovement, countcruuiced by (lie legislature, 

I have tlic pleasure to assure you of my high estecBi ar=d 
regard. 

yA3iL, li. ^llTCIilLL. 



53 

JUDGE IIEItTELL'S LETTER; 

'fo CuAKLEs G. Hainks, Es(j, CoiTcspondJu;!^ Secretary of 
(lie Nkw-Youk Association rou the Puomotio.v of 

IiV tiliNAL lAIPtiOVIiMENT. 

Sir — in Ji conversation I i-eecndy had with a frienil on th© 
suhject of Agiicultuic, he expressed an opinicn that some 
ideas wiiichl suggested niighi he woitJi a piihhc coniniuni- 
cation, and requested me fot* th.at purpose to note them in 
uritiog. Tliis I siiall attempt — and although it may be 
thouglit, from the suhjectofmy reniin-ks, that they ought to 
be addressed immediately to the Agileultural Soeieijes, I 
liave concluded that their direction to an '• Assoviulion for 
the Tromotion of lukrhal Imju'ovemcnl'" Avould not he ex- 
eeptlonal)Ie. 'i'jjough that ** association has {)ai'ticuhirly 
for its ohject the aefjuisition and difl'usion of all useful intel- 
ligence eonneeled with the inland trade and navigation of 
(lie country,'' yet it is entitled an " Jissockdion for the Fro,- 
motion of Tidcrnal Improvements,-* arnl it would savor 
strongly ofineongruity Avilh such a title should il vitlioltS 
its endeavors to promote the improvement of Jigricultuye. It 
is from {!»e f«f//i the wealth of nations flows, '^i'o improve 
the viMns, encourage and direct the iiidustrii hy which that 
>veah!i is drawn forth and realized, falls strictly within the 
terms <> promotion of internal improveunntSy** and is inti- 
mately, it not insepariihly, connected with the pjofessed ob- 
jects of your association. Indeed, how more efiicienily could 
the interests of inland trade and navigation he suiiserved, 
than (by promoting the improvement of agriculture) to in- 
crease the articles of trade and tiansportalion^ And Itovv 
more effectually could your association promote the interests 
of agriculture, than by uniting their iniiueuce with that of 
other bodies of their fellow-citizens, to inthice the govern- 
ment /op«/ ifs /tarKHo //te jj^om^/j. 'I'hat the cstablishruent 
o^nBoardof^JIgricullin'ewvruUlhc productive of pulatary 
results^ the experience of other nalious bwirs c•o:lcIus^^e tcs- 



54 

imiouy. That (he Lei;isiature wiil on (his subject be found 
to be the faithful represen(ativesofi!)C feelings, ai/.l \ushes of 
their eonstituenls, we ai'e liardly p{Miuit(('d to doubt. It 
'«vouUl be next to a libel on (heir wisdom and patriotism, to 
suppose that while they extend a fosterinj^ hand to comuierce, 
snanufrtctures and various departments of (he arts and scien- 
ues, (hey should I'efuse to eneourago and protect agriculture ; 
the original source from vvbicli these, or (lie liliBient on 
which they subsist, artMlerivcd. After having extended le- 
f^islative protection to the interest of a nnml)er of minor bo- 
dies of their constituents, it would aigne a great want of con- 
sideration to neglect the particular interests of far the lar- 
gest portion of the gieal jnass of She communily. 

My view of (he nature and olyects of the association, 
■W'hos€ organ you are, leads mc to the conclusion, that not 
only the interests of agriculture and inland trade and navi- 
gation, but also t!ie })ro?}!y//o« of t'le iuiprornneiit and mdiu- 
ndiou generally of the condition of mankind, will, as i( ought, 
be found among the objects of its solicitude and attention 
— -atid that any measure s whicli may (end to tlie attainment 
of these ends will me»t its cordial approbation and receive 
its active support. 

Permit me in the first place, though it is not very impor- 
tant, to remark, that (he word agriculhire is derived from 
the Latin word (igrkiutura, whic!i is compounded of the two 
Latin words a^yfr, or its g'nitivc agri, a fuld, land, ground, 
Und the word cuUuraf culture, tillage. Hence, the English 
^vord agricuUurCf which signi/ies the cultivation or tilhige of 
Zand; you will probably smile and say, every one knew this 
before. True, but tiieu every body don't act or talk as if 
it was know n to tljem. My authority for this remark is this, 
that from all I have seen published of the proceedings of ag- 
ricultural societies, and from most piivate conversations I 
Jicar, on (what is called) (he subject of agriculture, the at- 
tention is jlirected more to (he improvement of the breed of 
<'!ittle and the manufacturing of cloth, &c. than tlie cuUira' 



55 

lion of land. Makin.'; elotli is mannfacluring, ami (Iio rais. 
ini; of cattle and iniproviij^- (he Itreed is no uioi-e agriculture 
than the raising of poultry is such. These are useful and 
neeessarj branciics of rural economy. They arc among the 
bonerieial results of! agricullnn', am! ought to be encouraged 
and jjuproved with it — but liiey should not constitute the 
main or leading object of societies establisiied to acquire and 
dilTuse a knowledge of agricultural science. 

'VliG science of agricuUuve is a knowledge of the means of 
tilUng landf and the perfection of that science is the knowl- 
edge of the means of raising, odiagivcn quantity of land^ 
the greatest quantitij and the best qualitij of anij yarlicutar 
kind of food or other produce for animal sul)sislcncc or coni' 
fort, at the least expense, in lime, labor and money. This de- 
finition necessarily iinplios a knowledge of the constituent 
parts t)f (he soil intended for tillage — the nature and quality 
of the seed intended to be sown, together with the mode best 
adapted to its cultivation, ilow else can a farmer ascertain 
whether or not the land is congenial to the nature of the seed 
intended to be sown ? Ilow else can he tell wherein the de- 
ilcieney consists, or how to supply the defect ? It will not be 
denied that a lamentable lack of information on these sub- 
jects is too prevalent among our husbandmen. To remedy 
which it ought to be among the iirst objects of agricultural 
institutions to acquire and disseminate a knowledge of these 
primary principles of agricultural science. The best means 
of doing this may not prompily occur. Among others which 
may be adopted for tSiat purpose, it would be well tliat the 
constitution and laws of the societies should provide for the 
delivery by some intelligent member, or other competent 
character, annually or oftener, of a discourse embracing 
these and other matters connected with the subject. Or, 
perhaps, it may be thought better to award a premium to 
the author of the best and nmst useful essay on tlio subject 
of agriculture^ or any branch of rural cconoiBy connected 
^vith it. The premium ought to be snch us to elicit respectn- 



56 

liit\ H" not ilivit ra(c tiilesUs. The rands of the societies, pro- 
bably, eouhl not bo more ^eiioncialiy appiopi'ialed. 

The priiK'iple on wijich the ju'emir.ius have been awai'ded 
hy some, if not all tise societies, now in iKin;:^, is very objec- 
tionable, Inasniiich as it does not offer an equal eliancc to 
the eo!iij>e(i(ors. If J am coereelly advised, he wlio produ- 
ces (!ic best article of (he deseriplion tor which a premium is 
olieivd, is e!!(itled to tlie premium, -vUh-out <in\} vc^^ard being 
Imd l:f the ti iu\ labor, or expense. aiiemUn-^ Us proiliietion or 
imiiroveim'nf. ilenee, ifa wealthy farsiiee shall, at great ex- 
pense, produce <!te Ijesf article tor which a premium is ofH'red, 
lie obtains t'le premium. Now, certainly, the interest of 
no brancit of rural economy can be subserved by such a pro- 
cedure. The I'armer whose prudence may be j^reater oi' 
whose pecuniary ability less, stands not an cijual chance witit 
such a competitor. M ould it not be more beneficial, as well 
as more just, that an account of the lime, labor, and CA-pensc 
of making this piece of cloth, or rearing or improving that 
animal, should lirsl be ascertained, and the premium 
awarded to him whose mode of jivoccdnre .shall be deemed 
most beneficial to Ihc interests of the fanner and consequently 
most worthii of adoption 7 Of what possible use is it to the 
eoinmunity, that an animal is rearc<l or improved — or an ar- 
ticle manufactured at an expense which could not be refund- 
ed by the proceeds of the sale of the article itself, with t!ic 
addition of the premium into the bargain ? The candidate 
for the premiuu! is a wealthy man, able and willing to make 
a sacrifice for the gralillealion ofhispiide and ambition: 
hut Ills example ougiit not to be followed by the great body of 
iarm«^rs, because it is unproJitable and if j)ur5ued would be 
ruinous. Such a candidate should not receive a premium — 
to award it to him would be wrong, inasmuch as his exam- 
ple tends to the injury ratlicr than tlio interest of rural 
econo-uy. 

The same reasoning applies to, and the same piinciple 
otiglit to govern the distributicu of premintiis for agriculiu- 



57 

t'ai Improvements ; and (Iiese s]iouI(! he given to liim re//o 
shall, reith Ihe leasl Jahov and eccpense, raise on a given quan- 
tity of land, the grcalesl quantity and the best quality of any 
description of food, or other produce for animal subsist- 
ence or comfort ; for which a pi'ci.iiiini inav he offered. In 
tfiis ease, particular rci^ard heiiij^ had, not only to iJie quan^ 
tily and quality produced, hut also to the labor and expense 
of cultivation, the premium should be given to him, the value 
of whose crop should be greatest and best in proportion to tlie 
labor and expense, and whose mode of culture, (wliich should 
also he a subject of inquiry) should be deemed best because 
most profitable, and of course most xvorthy of general adop- 
tion. Hence the farmer who should set a]>art a small piece 
of ground and till it at an expensft which y\ould make 
his manner of culture not worth imitation, would stand no 
chance of ohtaining a premium — and for this plain reason, 
he has done nothing which tends to promote the interest and 
improvement of agriculture. 

The encoui'agement of rural industry hy rewarding dis- 
tinguished instances of it with a premium, is well worthy of 
attention; and should, if possilile, he eivi'ried into execution. 
And although the means to effect this purpose, unattended 
with didieulties may not readily occur, the ohjeet should 
not he relinquisli(;d asunattainahle without ^ouic energetic 
attempts to accomplish it. 

I have often wondered, that while the agrlcidtural socie- 
ties have evinced such a laudahle zeal for the improvement 
of the hreed of cattle, they should in no instance, or at least 
none that has fallen under my observation, manifest the 
least solicitude for the improvement of the race of Faiiners. 
Here is a wide uncultivated field for the exercise ef pjiilan- 
thropy — and it is to he regretted that it has so long remain- 
ed unoccupied. I have no difficulty in believing, tliat a 
large and respectable body of yeomanry will concur with 
me in the position, that for the last twenty or thirty years, 
great numbers of their brethren have degenerated mors? 

H 



liian the caJtie in their iieUls, The pi-jncipal cause ol ihu 
is the intemperate use of intoxicating Uquon. A referenee 
to the score of viliag-e lavcrn. and the inspection of llie book of" 
lije eounlrv grog-shop, usuaiiv dig-nified \vith the title o[* 
7ncrchant-stoT'e, wiil dissipate everv doubt whicii mav arise 
oi' the truitt of the above statement It is at the bar-rooiiL 
of the former, and the tap-room of the latter, v.e inav iearii. 
why so many aIniosL fenceless farms arc encumbered vihh 
bushes, briers, and debts — and why so laany riiscreeu indus- 
irioiis, spirit broiien women are obliged single handed tn 
deive and (iruuge in poveriy and wreieheaness. lo alieviaf 
the miseries oi a numerous family of imU naked chiMrcii. 
Whose minds are as luJe and uncultiuated as the hedge-row> 
of iiiC iiuli tiiled farm on wiiieh iiiey sufte:. It is next to 
lluliv to aiiempi to improva agriculture and the breed of cai 
lie. wiiiioiii a siniuiiuneous efioi i to eorreti iiiis t^iendet 
and expending evil, whicii wiiereever it exis«^ ''v^r me hope 
oiany improvemeni is lorbiddCL.. loendei -.'press it 

iiiiould be one oi the objects of Agricultural insijiutiuns, anc 
Siiouid nul be abanUoned, while sobriety and industry ar^ 
rank, d among lae virtues, or the practice of nioraiiiy deen^ 
ed esipaliai to iiuman feiieiiy. 

1 iiaveao e:s»ieeiavion ihui these societies alone can erad.- 
caie liie evii unu. r consiueratio:, — huL their infiuenet, pro 
peny direcieu anu zeaiousiy exerted, may operate lo cheei: 
iis progress, aiid iienee in soiiie measure iesson it : at ieas^' 
liio aiiempi ougiii lo be mauc. and with thai viev/ the socit 
LL- ougiit, ii» every stage Of their proceedings, lo maoifesi 
a marked cwiieuipt for luat dtgraduig vice. Among other 
lueaus \viiii;ii may be pursued for the atlaiument of the eml 
proposed, ii wouia oe proper liiai the e-uiisiituiion and law? 
of the respeeiive socieiies should exclude iniemperate cfuir 
acters from bf coiuiDg uiembei s, and provide ior their expn; 
siun should tU'-v become s(» afiei being auuiitied. in fur 
ihf ranee of lue oojeat in view, the meetings of the socieiies., 
auoulu uoi be hGiii ai laverii; ; and the annual exlwhit-iont 



59 

:,r ihows should Iw located as fur from ihc viciniiy of a tav- 
r-in or i^ro^-shop as c ire urn stances wiii admit. Tents, booilis 
iiarfjuees, and refreshments, for the accommodation andcon- 
venieaee of the company, might be provided ; I)ut iatoxica- 
linjj Ii(iuoi*s of every description peremptoiily intet-dieled. 
Ptiaee otfieers should be employed to prevent the viohilion of 
this and other salutary regulations, ami particularly to re- 
move from the show ii;rouad every person who shooid appear 
on it in a state of inebriety. 

It would be highly meritorious for the societies to use 
their influence to explede the baneful practice., of i^iving ar- 
dent liquors to laborers. Should this be eifeeted at the ex- 
pense of additional washes upon the condition that the labor- 
er should forego the use of such drink while in the service of 
Ills employer, the arrangement would be mutually benetleiai ;* 
and it would tend to facilitate its accomplishment, if to him 
who may obtain a premium, an additional gratuity should 
be awarded, provided it should appear, that in the manage- 
ment of his farm he has excluded the use of spirituous liquors. 
I the last season witnessed on a farm t!ie use of spruce beer 
brewed in tiie family) as a substitute for ardent spirits, and 
that too without eonsulting the laborers on the subject, who 
notwithstanding they were accustomed to the use of (he lat- 
ter, appeared not ualy reconciled to, but pleased with the 
iliange. Althougii the unrestrained use of the beer was per- 
mitted, the advantage in several respects was so manifest, 
that the employer felt no interest and took no trouble to as- 
^'criain whether or not the (irst cost of the beer was greater 
u* less than that of the rum. The little redectioa bestowed 
♦»a the subject, led to a belief that the difference of expense, 

* The employers of every description o£ laborers in the city as 
.veil as country, would promote iheir own interest, and aid the 
•ause of morality by making sucii a couditiou apart ot' eveiy 
.contract for services which are iutemied to continue sor a length 
oi'time. Tlie proprietors of new buildings would uot be amont^ 
iks flumber of tho^se least beneiitted by such a moasuie. 



60 

it'anj, was very iiilling. It^^uuM rtMccl iiuicli credit on 
the societies should lliey ciuleuvoi' to tliseover am! recoin- 
meud Ibv gencrul use tin? Ijcst substitute for ardent spirits, us 
41 fiolU and table Leverage. 

After adopJing llusc or otlier measures liavjug the like 
tendency, the eontinuatioii of t";e praeiiee ofgoing from the 
show ground to taverns, and eating sumptuous diuners and 
drinking a profusion of liquors, in honor of the occasion, 
"would cxhibil something more tJia^i the ineie air of ineonsis- 
ieiiey. Were the efleets of this practite as innoeriU as llie 
motive which induces it, it would not, be objeetiynable ,• but 
that is not the ease ; it leads many to the taverii who per- 
haps otherwise wouhl not go. It otfcrs the ojjportunilj, vmI 
•with it, the indiicenicnt to indulge too freejy ; and tlic ucca- 
sinn is of'en plead and admitted as a?i apol<j_^y for breaking 
the guard to nsoderafio!! Besides, ils inijuesietj as an ex- 
ample of extravagance is not harmless ; some worthy farm- 
ers, vho may feel themselves neither able nor wilihig to 
snect the extra expense of sue!' entertainments. wll j,o^si j'y he 
induced to absci;t theniJrcIves fiom tlie annual ex'iil#itions,les6 
by being present and not partaking of the feast, their pru- 
dence might be mistaken for meanness, and tlieir frugality 
for niggardness. For these reasons I would hope that the 
soeieties in future >vould either eniit these feasts, or exeiud« 
iueljriating drink from the rural repast. A part of the ex- 
pense thus saved, could be applied towards purchasing aii 
Agricultural Library for the use of tlie soeieJies, or appro- 
priated to ik'fray tiie expense iu pubiishiiig occasionally some 
learned and useful tract on i\ic subject of Agriculture, er 
other branch of rural economy. 

A growing disposition is uiani Tested nmong many of our 
farmers, to adoj)t the fasfjionahle lollies whieli too much pre- 
vail incur large eojumeieial cities, 'Vim habiisol' txlrava- 
gance to wijis-ii tliis givc¥ rise, are not among i!»e >eas^t of the 
causes which lead to tlie impoverishment of many. It i;.- 
ibis which oceasious tliens, riitlicr than (o deviate a iitro fVom 



61 

(he line of fasliion, (o substitute foreign dolliin^' fur tliat of 
theij- own domeslic nianufucture — and (his not only .it extra 
cost, but frequently at tlic expense of ruinous debts. The 
societies shouUl endeavor to eoi rect Ibis enof. Indeed if I 
mistake not, some of them do require their members to be 
clad, partieularlj at their meetings, in Ameriean tabrics. 
The exanifde should be followed hy all the societies ,• and ic 
^vould tend to advance the object, if each candidate for u 
preu:ium should receive some honorable testimony of the ap- 
probation of the society, if lie sliall be clothed in cloth man- 
ufaclured in his awn family. It would operate as a power- 
ful auxiliary, could the ladies be inlluenced to form soeieties 
for the encouragement and impiovement of those blanches 
which api>ertain more immediately to the female department 
of domestic and rural economy. AVIiat a proud spectacle 
for the eye of the patriot — what a proliiic source of fejjcita- 
i'lon to the soul of the philantliropist — to Indiold their fair 
counlry women emulating each other io useful occupations. 
llicJily arrayed in the improv« d fabrics of their own hands, 
and subsisting on t!ie wholesome fiuils of their own industry ! 
It eould not tlien be said of them, as lamentably it may of 
1,00 many of our city belles, (hat *» they toil not, neither do 
(hey spin, yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like 
one of these," — who are nraintained in idleness and extrava- 
gance by (he labors of others. 

IJut I must stop — I have already occupied more ground 
than 1 intended, and perhaps have talked too much. If, 
however, it has happened that 1 have started a solitary it!ea 
worth pursuing, and which had not before oeeuired to you. I 
shall count the lime well spent, which has been appropriated 
to this communication. 

AVilh much and due respect, 

I have the honor to be, sir, 
yours, vVc. 

J JIOS. TIERTTEIJ.. 



62 

MR, EUDY'S LETTER. 
To Mr. Charles G. Haines, 

ilE^i'ECTKD FltlEM), 

The esIabSisliuienl of AgriciilMiPul Societies tliiou^boLt 
tins state, on the plan reeouiiiicnded li^ tiic (iovernor, in liis 
speeeli to tlie li'gisialure, iip}»eHis to me to l)e iraugiil witli 
liiucli wisdom, and cannot fail of prodncing t'lc most liappv 
effects. It is \vt;ll known, that tlic Societies aliradv foruietl 
have produced gieat .q;ood, by stimulating enmlation, and 
diffusing infocmalion amongst our farnjcrs, and there can be 
no doubt, hut that as they are encreased, they >vill further 
produce extensive and innumerable blessings. 

ABoaid of Agriculture should I)e intent on the instiiutioj] 
of lectureships ojj the various brancfjcs of rural economy ; 
scientiKc and experienced agriculiurists should have the 
iiianageu»ent of •• PATTKitx fajjms," in different parts of the 
staie, wliere lectures might be illustraietl by an intelligent, 
pracLicuL farmer, and wliere the stuilent might be engaged 
>vilh his head and his hands ; and thus he fairly initiated 
into the theoiy and p>«Ct/c« of \\liate\er relates to rural and 
domestic ecf»nt»my. 'I'iic Board Uiiglit also render important 
services to tiie slate and country, by offering handsome pre- 
miums ior discoveries of usei'ul or valuable Diinerais ; the 
premium to be proportioned according to the value and pro- 
bable quantity of ilie mineral. This wouhl tend greatly to 
develoue our resources, and to elicit a spirit of useful enter- 
prizc. This plan has been productive of important and val- 
uable rctiuhs in Germany. 

Amongst the many important objecls, that miglit demand 
the attention of Agricultural Societies, it ap[)ears to me thai 
there are none vhich nmre deserve their attention, tiian to 
discoui-age tlie use of aident spirits. Every reflecting per 
son must acknuuledge ;*n(l deplore the many evils produced 
by this slow and cerii»in poison. It inculcates habits of in- 
subordination, instigates to crime, depraves morals, enervates 
and weakens both body and mind, and produces idleness, 
want, and misery. J'iiest' considerations induce me to be- 
lieve that Agricultural Societies cannot render more extensile 
benefits tot i»e farming interest in the state, than to use their 
licst endeavors to discourage the use oi' sdong spirits amungs! 
laborers and others, that mav be employed Sn tfieir service. 



63 

luui particularly in harvest lime. In several coantics iu 
Pennsjivaiiiii, as well as in some parts of tljis state, ihu larin- 
ers do not use any spirits in j^eltin;^ in their harvest. The 
couinion praetii-e is, to take into the fiehl about 11 o'clock, 
some bread ami elieese, pye, iScc. and drink milk and \^atcr, 
eider, or small beer. Associations are formed in many 
towns, soiely lor the purpose of discouraging; ihc useof spi- 
rito'.is liq-iors, aad the lirst resohition passed is, that evirii 
member of sue!: associalion uhU hnihseij abslain cntirchj jroin 
the tue i-f it- Lot tlie4i our Agricultural Societies pass sim- 
ilar res Aulioas, remeutbering that example is more useful in 
promoting ^ood morals than precept. Let them also otrer 
handsome piciiiiums to every farmer who will get in his har- 
dest without giving out spirituous liquors ; and a larger pre. 
mium to every iariuer who shall have got in his iiarvest with- 
out using strong drink, and who has prohibited the use of it, 
except as medicine, in his family for one year. Of w hat use 
to the farmer are large ciops of grain, or the raising of fine 
cattle, unless sober habits are preserved, and the vile practice 
of drinking spirituous liquoi-s avoided ? Agriculfuic, with 
iNDLsriiY, is tlie certaifj road Co prosperity : whereas idle 
Jiess, want, and misery, are the jratural consequences of the 
use of strong drink. Its extensive and alarming introdue- 
ilon into families, has already |)roved a blot upon our natioual 
character, and an injury to the American name in foreign 
countries.* 

Another plan has oceurre<l to me, which, in my opinion, 
iniq;ht be higiilv useful to our farmers. LtH a fund be estab- 
lished in each county, which might be called the »< FAR>2- 
KRS' SAVING FUND."— The'directorsto receive as small 

* The following: statemfTits are extractod from Seybert's Statistical Anna!?, 
toiincJed on officiiil docniiifnts. See page 460 to i64 : 

l?t July Hill, to .50(1) September, 1792, there were in the United QG30 stili?., 
vliieh made iVom foreign and domestic articles o, 171,5^ gallons ofspirits. 

Ill 179ti, tiie .iiiima! rousumption was computed bv the secrtlarv olihe treasu- 
ry to be 10,0W,(3(H.) ijnUoiis. 

in laiO, the iiuiuber oistillswere 11,191 aiid 22,977,167 galls, from fruit &. grain. 

i,S-7.6'2. 5 tjoin molassei. 



'-.'3,804,792 galls, rallied at ? 
^lJ,5o8,OJ0dls. > 
After deducting t'le quantity of foreign spi- "J 
rits exported from what was iiuportct!, > 7,S33,09o 

there remained, J , 

Total, 3S,H77,0-12 gallons. 
CouipiiteJ to be abom 4- 1-4 c-allons for each i)erson. 
In 131 J, there was coniniited to be lo.OtH) stills in the Uijited otatcjjfwliich eni- 
n'.oved a capital of ISjOOO^WO dollar;.- 



64 

asjim as five dolhirs, aiul, at (heir diserciion, purrliasb piii/ 
]ic stock, and \hc depositors Jo irecive an interest ol' live j»or 
ccnt, lo l>c |>aid (liom l(aH\voajIv : (lie I'lind (o he open for 
i-eeeivin}; deposits once in (wo weeks ; (lie money deposKed 
(0 he drawn out (when (he i'und is open) at tfie pleasure oT 
(he depositoi* ; hut no interest sliouhl he allowed on anv sum, 
Tinless (he same shall have heen deposited f(»r six mondis. 
Js'olcs ahould not he issued, and no diticoniii.s made midcv ainj 
pretence wkatcver. I'he direetors mi^hf he annually ap- 
pointed hj sueli deposi(ors, who had s(;tri(!in,ii; (o (heir credit 

— — — — . (lis. lor mouths widiin (he year, and (he d- 

ree(ois should sei've gra(ui!ously ; all surplus j)rofi(s of (he 
fund to he divided anjoii!^ all such deposi(ors A>ho should 

have dis. (o (heir eredit lor one year. 

I cannot now further enlari^e. and what has already hccn 
said may he considered merely as hints ; yet I eannot refrain 
from atidinj;, that amongst «i(her important advantaj^es that 
may be produeed hy the estahlishment of an Agricuhural 
Uoard. and (fje es(ahlishujent of Agricultural Soeieties in 
every eounly of (he state, that tisey will serve to difnise in the. 
minds of our younjc men a taste for the pursuits of hush«n('» 
vy, and teaeh them (he folly of leavin;;' (he ealm and tran- 
quil scenes of rustic life, for (he bustle and great uneer(ain- 
lies of pities and jir.ofessional pursuits. 

It will ever remain true, * that cities rise in splen- 

* dour and we-alth, and moulder into desolation and ruin, as 

* agriculture flourishes or declines ; and (he co»nfr^ is ei(her 
" a wilderness, a barren and (rackless waste, or populous, 
■ smiling, and plenteous, in proporlion (o (lie prospcri(y and 
- success of its husbandry.* 

I am with much es(eem, 

Thv assured friend, 
'J !!<>MAS KDDY, 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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